Preparing for the future
Minimising the risks to Aitutaki from future cyclones
DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT NEEDS: The scale of the impact of Cyclone Pat highlighted a number of areas for improvement in terms of the management of disaster risk on Aitutaki. The recovery needs assessment also demonstrated that there was a strong willingness by communities and other stakeholders to address their exposure to disaster risk. These revolved mainly around clean-up activities, early warning systems (such as the
meteorological site), key infrastructure (housing and other public structures), and water and electricity.
The cyclone impacts also highlighted the need for improvements in existing preparedness procedures and evacuation shelters. Following the cyclone there is a degree of secondary risk associated with future extreme events due to the remaining debris (particularly roofing iron) which needs to be addressed in the immediate term, as well as a fire risk given that it occurred following a dry period.
STRATEGIES: In order to achieve reduce risk to disasters, risk reduction principles need to be instilled throughout all aspects of the recovery process. With the impacts of Cyclone Pat as well as the almost immediate threat of Cyclone Sarah and the potential Tsunami (relating to the earthquake in Chile),disasters are very much on peoples’ minds. This provides an opportunity to further consolidate awareness and lessons learning activities with communities and key stakeholders in Aitutaki whilst disaster issues are fresh on peoples’ minds. There is also the opportunity to enhance preparedness
systems (and infrastructure) as well as the need to repair early warning systems. Furthermore, the recovery programme provides an ideal opportunity to strengthen institutional arrangement for DRM in Aitutaki, and is firmly based within the National
Action Plan for Disaster Risk Management (2009-2015).
The strategies for risk reduction and disaster management are based around the following key areas:
1. Clean-up activities to reduce secondary risk
2. Raising awareness and enhancing capacity at community level on DRM issues.
3. Disaster Preparedness and Early Warning
4. Improve disaster resilience of designated evacuation shelters
5. Institutional strengthening for DRM in Aitutaki
6. Initial waste management and biodiversity work.
ACTIVITIES: The following list of activities for DRM based recovery work was developed by a working group led by Emergency Management Cook Islands (EMCI) with contributions from the Met Office, the Police Commission, MFEM and members of the Aitutaki administration.
Clean-up activities to reduce secondary risk:
• Collection of debris in all affected areas (immediate)
• Disposal of roofing iron and purchase of compacting machine (immediate)
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Awareness Raising and Training on DRM:
• Awareness raising and lessons learned workshop for the people of Aitutaki (immediate)
• Provisions for training on disaster resilient building techniques for local carpenters (immediate)
• Activities to raise awareness of the children and teachers about disaster risks and disaster preparedness.
Early Warning Systems and Preparedness
• Replace damaged meteorological station (immediate)
• End-to-end review of EWS to develop optimal system
• Conduct regular table top and operational exercises (drills) to test the early warning systems
• Update Aitutaki Disaster Response Plan.
Improve disaster resilience of evacuation shelters
• Review of the safety shelters evacuation system (immediate)
• Install adequate water storage systems for designated evacuation shelters
• Provide back-up generators for designated evacuation shelters
• Carry out structural repairs to designated evacuation shelters
Institutional strengthening for DRM:
• Comprehensive assessment of all hazard risks (immediate);
• Review national building codes and application for Aitutaki recovery programme
• Review and update Aitutaki Disaster Management Plan
• Re-establish Aitutaki Disaster Risk Management Council (in accordance with the Aitutaki Disaster Management Plan)
Table -DRM Activities Cost (NZD)
1. Clean-up activities $86,410
2. Awareness raising and training on DRM $5,000
3. Early Warning Systems and preparedness plans $24,000
4. Improve disaster resilience of key infrastructure $200,000
5. Institutional strengthening for DRM $15,000
6. Waste management and biodiversity work $200,000
TOTAL $530,410
Herald Issue 463 10 June
- World famous activist assisting residents
- Budget will decide if residents prosecute Government over landfill
- Forestry project sucking Mangaia dry
- Budget 2010 – fiasco or disaster?
