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DIPECHO and CAP

The Department of Emergency Management is currently partnering with The United Nations Development Programme to undertake two projects, the Strengthening Resilience and Coping Capacities for Integrated Early Warning Systems (DIPECHO) and the Community Based Early Warning Systems for Barbados (CAP) projects.

Barbados

Barbados is susceptible to a number of natural and anthropogenic hazards, including tsunamis, earthquakes, and other phenomenon such as submarine landslides and underwater volcanoes (eg Kick'em Jenny offshore of Grenada and the Grenadines) which are potentially tsunamigenic. In addition, Barbados is comparatively more vulnerable due to the economic risks of assets being concentrated in the pilot communities of these two projects.

A. Strengthening Resilience and Coping Capacities in the Caribbean through Integrated Early Warning Systems (DIPECHO)

The Strengthening Resilience and Coping Capacities in the Caribbean through Integrated Early Warning Systems project is being implemented in seven pilot communities within four countries Dominica, Barbados, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines to enhance community resilience and demonstrate a coherent approach to alert community members to natural disasters and emergencies. The project is financed by the European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO) and is expected to be completed by October 2016 and has one main objective, specifically:

  • To strengthen national preparedness mechanisms through improved hazard monitoring and alert dissemination, targeting vulnerable communities and groups; and create regional framework for facilitating multi-hazard Common Alerting Protocol Early Warning System (CAP EWS)


    • The Communities

    Shermans, St Lucy

    Shermans is a small community located in the northern parish of St Lucy. It is a low lying coastal area and particularly vulnerable to rapidly forming events which can generate flooding from rainfall and from coastal hazards such as storm surges. Thereby making it vulnerable to both inland and coastal flooding. There are numerous commercial and service outlets within the community, such as shops, mini-marts, a bakery, hardware stores, funeral homes and guesthouses; all of which are operated by self-employed small business owners.

    Martin's Bay, St. John

    Martin’s Bay is a small fishing village located in the eastern parish of St John; it is accessible by two single lane roads, and from the sea. Although it is not a low-lying community, it is susceptible to very high tides which causes coastal flooding; the area is also prone to inland flooding as it is downhill from many communities, it is also vulnerable to land slippage. There is some commercial activity within the community, such as a few small shops which are operated by self-employed persons.

    B. Community Based Early Warning Systems for Barbados (CAP)

    This project is currently being implemented in the environs of Holetown, St. James and will be closely aligned and implemented in collaboration with the DIPECHO project.

    The project is directly linked to the Water Resource Management and Flood Resilience Climate Change Adaptation Programme, funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and currently being implemented by the Ministry of Environment and Drainage, Barbados; which will develop adaptation measures to counter the effects of climate change in the areas of Trents and Holetown, St. James. Strategic linkages are being made with the Coastal Risk Assessment and Management Program aimed at building resilience to coastal risks.

    This initiative is being funding by the (United States Agency for International Development Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) and the Government of Barbados, and will seek to establish the following:

  • Improved awareness to natural hazards through enhanced public education and awareness building initiatives in Holetown St. James
  • Reduced vulnerability to natural hazards through the enhanced alerting within Holetown, St. James
  • Enhanced national capacities for public warning following improved capacity for public warning


    • The Community

    Holetown, St. James

    Holetown is a bustling community located in the western parish of St James. It is a low lying coastal area and particularly vulnerable to rapidly forming events which can generate flooding from rainfall and from coastal hazards such as storm surges. Thereby making it vulnerable to both inland and coastal flooding. There are numerous commercial businesses within the area; such as hotels, banks, restaurants, supermarkets and gas stations making the area densely populated with both businesses and residences.



    Please visit the main site for additional information on these projects at:
    http://www.bb.undp.org/content/barbados/en/home/operations/projects/crisis_prevention_and_recovery/caribbean-tsunami-information-centre/

    http://www.bb.undp.org/content/barbados/en/home/operations/projects/crisis_prevention_and_recovery/strengthening-resilience-and-coping-capacities-in-the-caribbean-/