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Local Government Disaster Preparedness Assessment: Limb? and Montrouis Watersheds (consultant report) [D?veloppement Economique pour un Environnement Durable (DEED) programme]

Author(s): Kelly, C.  |  Development Alternatives Inc (DAI)

Publisher: USAID
Place of publication: Haiti
Year: 2009

Links:

• http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNADP070.pdf

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The USAID-funded, DAI administered DEED Project commissioned a study to (1) Evaluate the status of disaster planning and local government capacity for the same in DEED project communities and (2) Articulate a plan for DEED to best achieve its participatory disaster preparedness planning commitments. The study was conducted from 22 July to 7 August 2009 and involved document review, key informant meetings and site visits to the Limbe and Montrouis project areas.

Key findings of the evaluation included:

?h Local capacity to plan for and respond to disasters is relatively strong in disaster preparedness and response, but needs development in risk assessment and mitigation.

?h Community-level disaster management efforts need to focus on several additional hazards, including wind and drought.

?h Local interest in disaster preparedness is strong but faces challenges with inadequate resources, capacities and information on risks.

?h The DCP takes a decentralized approach to disaster planning, providing training and technical support through a variety of projects and mechanisms.

?h The National Geographic Information Services Center has capacities and experience in mapping floods and other hazards.

?h DEED¡¦s collection of data for land use planning is a significant resource for community-level disaster risk management.

?h DCP¡¦s community-based disaster planning approach complements DEED¡¦s watershed-based project approach.

?h DEED project impacts can be strengthened and preserved by a formal integration of risk reduction into project activities and approaches.

Key recommendations include:

?h Expand DEED¡¦s work in disaster risk reduction to include wind and drought hazards and support to local disaster management committees, in partnership with other USAID projects and DCP and partners.

?h Develop site-specific hazard management plans for hazard locations identified through hazard mapping using community-based methods.

?h Map flood zones for Limbe/Bas Limbe at the 1:3000 to 1:5000 scale.

?h Improve the informal early warning system in the Limbe watershed.

?h Develop and disseminate agriculture risk reduction guidance for floods, wind, hail and drought.

?h Incorporate risk reduction into infrastructure-related activities.

?h Incorporate environmentally friendly approaches into project infrastructure interventions.

Keywords:
Disaster management  |  Emergency operations  |  Flood  |  Haiti  |  Risk assessment  |  www