Transcript Turks and Caicos Post Hurricane Ike Recovery: A Case Study

Presented By:
Jamell Robinson
Director
Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies
Turks and Caicos Islands
Content
• Background
• Recovery Plan Development Process
• Management Structure of Recovery Process
• Recovery Process
• Selection Criteria for Residential Housing
• Challenges
• Lost Opportunities
• Successful Recovery Projects
• Recommendations
Background - Event
 Hurricane Ike impacted
on the TCI 6th – 7th
September 2008
 Passed south of islands
as Cat 4 with 135 mph
winds observed
 Primarily affected the
Grand Turk, Salt Cay and
South Caicos
Background - Impact
• No lives lost
• 95% of All Buildings
Damaged (Primarily
impacted Islands)
• Over 700 homes lost
• Electricity and water were
disrupted for an extended
period
• Over $US 200 million in
damage to assets and
production losses with
increased operational
expenses and revenue losses
Recovery Plan Development
Process
• Recovery plan was developed ad-hoc
• Technical support provided to the TCI by UNDP and DFID
– CARICAD Recovery Advisor and Disaster Management
Advisor
• Consultative process
– Series of key stakeholder meetings
– Representation made by Disaster Management, Education,
Health, NGO’s, Civil Society, Private sector and Others
• Plan content developed included:
– Strategic Priorities; Governance; List of Recovery Tasks and
Activities; Time Frames and Key Assumptions; Rationale for
Prioritizing Projects; Resourcing the Recovery Effort.
Management Structure of
Recovery Process
 Recovery Task Force (RTF)
 set up to lead and coordinate Recovery with the public sector leading
the Recovery process.

The non-government sectors – private, NGO, CBO were co-opted as full partners.
 The RTF is Chaired by the P/S Finance and reports directly to Cabinet
 Meetings of the Recovery Task Force were held weekly and more often
if required
 Sub committees were set up to reflect and develop needs
 Infrastructure; Utilities; Facilities; Accommodation; Social Services;
Public information, education and awareness; Environmental
management; National Security; and Economic and commercial
activities
 A Standard Reporting Format was devised for sub-committees of the
RTF
Management Structure of Recovery Process
Cont’d
 Disaster Recovery Board (DRB)
 established to oversee the use of a five million pounds
Sterling Grant that was provided by the United Kingdom
Government
 Chaired by the Governor of the TCI
 The Board considered projects submitted by the
Recovery Task Force
 Guidelines for operations of the Board were laid out in a
Memorandum of Understanding between TCIG and
UKG
Recovery Process
 RTF Sub-Committees were tasked with the development of





short and long-term programs and projects
 Projects and Programs prioritized based on 5 star
sectoral system
Further prioritization would take place at meetings of RTF
based on an 8 star territorial/national system
Initial approval sort by DRB
Structural and Bills of Quantity Assessments
Tendering Process
Final Approval by DRB and Awarding of Contract
Recovery Process Cont’d
SECTORAL RATIONALE FOR
PRIORITIZING PROJECTS
1. Provides protection from the
elements for workers and
critical assets or equipment
2. Contributes to the quality of
life and wellbeing
3. Reduces expenditure
4. Has linkages with other
sectors
5. Contributes to vulnerability
reduction
TERRITORIAL RATIONALE FOR
PRIORITIZING PROJECTS
1. Restores critical infrastructure or
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
capacity
Provides major economic and social
benefit
Preserves or improves national
security
Reduces vulnerability to hazards
Contributes to sustainable
development
Satisfies a multi-island need
Restores or protects the natural
environment
Supports Climate Change Adaptation
Selection Criteria for Residential
Housing
 Initially a multi-stakeholder assessment
team was established but subsequently
subsumed by the Housing Subcommittee

Members: Department of Disaster Management
and Emergencies (DDME); Housing
Department; Engineering and Maintenance
Service (EMS); TCI Red Cross, Pastor’s Fraternal;
Social Development; Opposition Representative;
Ministry of Finance Representative and others
 Eligibility for the program determined
based on the following:

Household Income Above $35,000;

Having Housing Insurance
Rental Property
Land Ownership


 Persons prioritized by 9 point system

Information collected: Elderly (65+); No Home
Insurance; No Savings; Unqualified for a Loan;
No Support from Relatives; Disable; Several
Dependents; Unemployed; Single Parent Home.
Challenges
 Human Resource Limitation and Allocation
 Lack of a Structural Engineering Capacity to undertake
extensive tasks
 Delayed assigning of dedicated Attorney by Attorney
General’s Chambers
 Prerequisite of Recovery Plan Completion before funds
could be released
 Enthusiasm Gap Experienced
 Selection of Housing Assistance beneficiaries

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Collection of accurate data
Identification of suitable land for possible relocation
Land Ownership in General
Ability to accommodate non citizens – Humanitarian issue
Lost Opportunities
 Cancellation of a Donor Conference
 Decision to only use UK Funds for infrastructural
improvements directly related to Hurricane Ike’s
Impact
 Salt Cay Breakwater
 Allocation of Caribbean Catastrophic Risk Insurance
Facility Funds primarily on response efforts
 $3.5 Million use for providing hot meals through two
soup kitchens in Grand Turk and one in South Caicos
Successful Recovery Projects
(100 +)
Salt Cay Shelter Before
Salt Cay Shelter After
Successful Recovery Projects Cont’d
Canal Before
Canal After
Successful Recovery Projects Cont’d
TCICC Auditorium Before
TCICC Auditorium After
Successful Recovery Projects Cont’d
Old Airport Hanger Before
Old Airport Hanger After
Successful Recovery Projects Cont’d
Medical Clinic before
Medical Clinic After
Recommendations
 Plan in Advance
 Critical Pathway must be defined and addressed i.e.
Resource implications
 Flexibility within the recovery process is a necessity
when dealing with the many challenges that will arise
during the process
 Utilization of existing processes are important
 Public relations are a very key component of the
recovery process
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