DDME

About DDME

Functions

The Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies was created in 2001 with a budget dedicated to preparation for response to Hurricanes.

Since then its mandate has been expanded to a more compressive approach to Disaster Management to include all hazards the islands are vulnerable too.  It activities now cover all phases of Disaster Management including Disaster Risk Reduction, the preparation of Flood Hazard and Vulnerability Studies, Planning and Training and Exercising and providing technical assistance.

During an actual emergency the department is responsible for providing warning and coordinating the response and support to government departments and private sector recovery efforts.

The headquarters are located at 1316 Customs Complex, Leeward Highway, Providenciales with a Sub Office in South Base, Grand Turk.  The District Commissioners on the islands of Salt Cay, South Caicos, Middle and North Caicos coordinate Disaster Management activities.

Core Values

P.R.E.P.A.R.E.

Preparedness, Reliability, Efficiency, People Centred, Accountability, Resourcefulness, Effectiveness

Outcome Statement

Outcome 1 - Increased awareness of the TCI population about preparedness for and the impacts of hazards.

  1. Public Education and Information Dissemination - Public Awareness Campaigns
  2. Development of Early Warning Systems
  3. Building Code Public Education
  4. Improvement of Accuracy of Information and Timeliness to the Public
  5. Website Development and Social Media

Outcome 2 - Enhanced integration of CDM in all phases of DRM into key sectoral policies; tourism, finance/ economic development, physical planning, infrastructure, education, health, environment.

  1. Emergency Planning improved in Sector Planning - Finance and Tourism
  2. NDC and Sub-Committee Monitoring
  3. Business Contingency and Continuity Planning
  4. Revision of National Plans and Upgrades of SOPs
  5. Disaster Legislation and Policy

Outcome 3 - Strengthened Hazard Mitigation and Climate Change Adaptation in the Physical Planning and Socio- Economic processes.

  1. Development of Hazard Catalogue
  2. Development of Vulnerability Index for Hazards
  3. Integrate Disaster Risk into Planning by Way of Documentation and Representation
  4. Greater Utilisation of Hazard Data in Decision Making Processes

Outcome 4 - Enhanced resilience of islands/communities to hazard impacts.

  1. Demarkation of Community Boundaries
  2. Developmeny of Approaches to Community-Based Risk Management
  3. Integration of Regional Model
  4. Risk Management Plans and Community-Based Mapping
  5. Establishment of Risk Management Groups Integrated into Existing NGO's and Independent Community-Based Groups

Outcome 5 - Strengthened national mechanism for emergency preparedness and response.

  1. Warehouse Management
  2. EOC Capacity Improved
  3. Training for First Responders
  4. Equipment and Resources
  5. Strengthen the Institutional Framework
  6. Improved Communications

Outcome 6 - Strengthened mechanisms for recovery programmes.

  1. Integration of Projects that Integrate Mitigation into Design Phases
  2. Recovery Plan Developed / Improved
  3. Calamity Account / Disaster Risk Established

Objectives – Major Priorities

  1. Enact Draft Disaster Management Legislation utilizing the CDM and FCO Models by December 2013 and Enact Disaster Management Policy by March 2014.
  2. Recruit staff to strengthen internal capacity for attracting international and regional funding as well as to bolster DDME’s emergency communications mechanisms through the adoption of international telecommunication protocols by March 2014
  3. Improve Standard Operating Procedures, National Plans and Protocols by December 2013
  4. Increase Warehouse and Logistics Support and Capacity to Respond to Emergencies by March 2014
  5. Improve communications systems currently in place by the DDME to build national communication redundancies
  6. Improve EOC capacity for improved emergency response
  7. Improve Multi-Agency approach for Local Regional and International Training opportunities
  8. Improved Financial Capability and increased adjustments to budget lines – Accommodation and Subsistence Local Travel, Accommodation and Subsistence, International Travel and Transport: Air and Sea and Communication Expenses(32803) to boost radio equipment acquisition.

Vision and Mission Statement

Vision

Building a Disaster Resilient Nation in the Turks and Caicos Islands through Comprehensive Disaster Management.

Mission Statement

To Develop and maintain a culture of Comprehensive Disaster Management among all sectors of the society within the Turks and Caicos Islands in order to save lives and protect property from natural and technological hazards.

Organisation History

Natural Disasters as it was known then was among the areas of responsibility of the Governor’s Office and fell under Internal Security and still is today.  The Chief Secretary was however given direct responsibility for disaster up until 1984.

Period 1984 – 1987

In March of 1984 Mr. Hartley Coalbrooke became the islands first National Disaster Coordinator, as part of his duties and responsibilities, first as Under Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office and then as Permanent Secretary/Communications.

During his tenure, the focus was mainly on hurricanes and floods as outlined in the TCI Hurricane Instructions 1984 although the islands were being made aware of the broader issue of preparedness for both natural and man- made events.

During the period Mr. Coalbrooke served as National Coordinator the TCI participated in the Pan Caribbean Disaster and Prevention Project based in Antigua and received extensive training in all areas of Disaster Management. Even though Mr. Coalbrooke was the National Disaster Coordinator it was part time and the Chief Secretary’s Office was still responsible for Disaster Management in all the islands. However, the District Commissioner Offices, which fell under the Chief Secretary Office’s, was therefore directly responsible for Disaster Management on all the islands except Grand Turk.

In the case of Providenciales there was an Island Hurricane Committee, which functioned until December, 1990 with the District Commissioner as the Chairman and the following members:

  • Officer in Charge of the Police Department
  • Officer in Charge of the Immigration Department
  • Officer in Charge of the Customs Department
  • Officer in Charge of the Environmental Health Department
  • Officer in Charge of Public Works Department
  • Officer in Charge of the Medical Department
  • Officer in Charge of the Planning Department
  • Airport Manager, Civil Aviation Department
  • Manager Johnstons International
  • Manager Cove Construction Company
  • Representatives from the Hotel Association & Dive Shops
  • Representatives from the Civic Groups/ Clubs
  • Representatives from the Airline Industry

In Providenciales, the Public Works Department would set out to check all the shelters that were listed, these were normally the Government Primary Schools in the Settlements of Five Cays, Blue Hills and The Bight, and later the High School, in addition there were a few other buildings mainly Churches.

The Police Department would make checks throughout the islands to ensure that their communications systems were in operation, and also check their vehicles, emergency supplies and small boat to ensure that everything was in working condition. The Civil Aviation Department would also check their communications system and their vehicle and trailer, which would be used to carry their Boston Whaler boat, and their rubber dinghies. The standby generator at the Airport would also be serviced and checked to see that it is in running condition. The Medical and Environmental Departments would also check their emergency supplies and their vehicles including the Ambulance, and the standby generator at the Clinic.

If and when there is the threat of a storm, the Committee would meet and discuss their plans. The Construction Companies would ensure that they have heavy duty equipment posted at certain points on the island in the event of a hurricane and they are required to clear the roads.

The District Commissioner’s residence was originally used as the main command centre in Providenciales during two storms but this was then discontinued and the Police Station became the Center.

The Police Department would also go around to the various settlements in the event of storm is threatening and inform the residents via loud speaker in English, French Creole and Spanish. Persons in low-lying areas were asked to move out and given assistance if they were unable to do, so on their own.

There would also be briefing to all shelter wardens in the event that the shelters are required. On a few occasions the shelters were used, the District Commissioner’s Office provided flashlights, rubber boots, oil stoves for each shelter and a Police officer was posted to each shelter with a VHF hand held

Similar activities took place on the other islands while on Grand Turk the meetings were chaired by the Chief Secretary, Mrs. Cynthia Astwood.

Period 1987 – 2001

In 1987 Mr. Kingsley Been Under Secretary in the Chief Secretary’s Office, Providenciales, took up responsibility as Disaster Coordinator and he continued the focus on Hurricane Awareness. More persons were added to the membership of the Hurricane Committee and Mr. William Clare was appointed Secretary.

The National Disaster Coordinator position continued to be a part-time function with limited or no dedicated resources.  His initial task was to embark on a programme of Public Awareness and Training, starting at the Community Level for First Responders. These programmes were primarily funded by the Overseas Development Administration (ODA) in London as part of its development assistance to the TCI as an Overseas Territory with technical support and resource persons coming from the Pan Caribbean Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Project (PCDPPP).

With the increasing level of awareness and the need to activate our Response Plan at times also came a recognition and greater appreciation for additional supplies, resources and a separate budget for Programme Funding.  Focus on Disaster Preparedness was eventually broaden to include certain man-made phenomena such as an Oil Spill, which could cause an overwhelming ecological disruption or an aircraft accident given the physical and natural characteristics of the islands and the level of domestic and international aviation activity necessary for sustaining the economy of the islands.

A National Oil Spill Response Contingency Plan was drafted in the year 1994 with the assistance of Rear Admiral Michael L. Stacey, Marine Pollution Consultant for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. This was an ODA sponsored project in all of the Overseas Territories. Following acceptance and agreement to the plan by government, a Table Top Simulation Exercise was carried out to test the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan. The exercise was attended by a representative from the respective Lead Agency of all the UK Overseas Territories in addition to the Bahamas recognizing the fact that an oil spill in the TCI could subsequently affect the Bahamas. In addition, it was recognized that most of the major fuel distributors in the Bahamas maintained a presence in the TCI.

With the support and assistance of the Civil Aviation Department and in an effort to fulfill its international and legal obligations, two (2) Aircraft Simulation Exercises were carried out in the 1990s, one at the Grand Turk International Airport and other at the Providenciales International Airport in which some two hundred (250) persons participated in each exercise including all of the emergency services from both the public and private sector and a number of volunteers who played the role as victims and assisted in different areas.

One important and significant development during their time was the establishment of the Association of National Disaster Coordinators for the UK Dependent Territories NEMDT that convened in Grand Turk on 7th March 1996. The Association was established in July 1994 when the inaugural meeting was held in the British Virgin Islands from July 14th to 15th of that year.

In addition, the Turks and Caicos Islands also became a member of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency and Response Agency (CDERA) now Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), which was established in 1991. This represented another milestone in the advancement of Disaster Management setting the stage and creating the urgency for the Government to commit full time staff and the allocation of adequate resources for Disaster Management.

Mr. Been served as National Disaster Coordinator until 1997 during that time he attended many local, regional and international conference and workshops. By 1997 Mr. Been was transferred from Under Secretary, Chief Secretary’s Office to Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works. Between 1997 and 2001 three officers in the Ministry of Works performed the duties of National Disaster Coordinator on a part time basis.

The Department of Disaster Management

The Department was established in 2001, as a Department of the Chief Secretary’s Office with the head office in Grand Turk and a sub office in Providenciales. The Grand Turk Office was staff with two full time members of staff; a Director and a Secretary and the Provo Office with one full time staff member the Deputy Director. The department currently has a total of six full time staff members, four at the Grand Turk Office and two at the Provo Office. To date seven persons has served as Director of the Department.

In 2004 Disaster Management and Emergencies was included in the Port Folio of the Minister for Social Services and the department was transferred from the Chief Secretary’s Office to that Ministry. The Minister at that time was Honourable Karen Delancy.  It is now presently under the Ministry of Government support Services and the Minister responsible for Disaster Management and Emergencies is the Hon. George Lightbourne.

The District Commissioners continues to be the focal point for Disaster Management on Salt Cay, South Caicos North and Middle Caicos and relates directly to the Department of Disaster Management.