Turks and Caicos Post Hurricane Ike Recovery: A Case Study

Presented By:Jamell Robinson

DirectorDepartment 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 - EventHurricane 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’dDisaster 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 TCIThe Board considered projects submitted by

the Recovery Task ForceGuidelines for operations of the Board were

laid out in a Memorandum of Understanding between TCIG and UKG

Recovery ProcessRTF Sub-Committees were tasked with the

development of short and long-term programs and projects Projects and Programs prioritized based on 5 star

sectoral systemFurther prioritization would take place at meetings

of RTF based on an 8 star territorial/national systemInitial approval sort by DRBStructural and Bills of Quantity AssessmentsTendering ProcessFinal Approval by DRB and Awarding of Contract

Recovery Process Cont’dSECTORAL RATIONALE FOR PRIORITIZING PROJECTS

TERRITORIAL 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

1. Restores critical infrastructure or capacity  

2. Provides major economic and social benefit

3. Preserves or improves national security  

4. Reduces vulnerability to hazards 5. Contributes to sustainable

development 6. Satisfies a multi-island need 7. Restores or protects the natural

environment 8. Supports Climate Change

Adaptation

Selection Criteria for Residential Housing

Initially a multi-stakeholder assessment team was established but subsequently subsumed by the Housing Sub-committee

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.

ChallengesHuman 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 ExperiencedSelection of Housing Assistance beneficiaries

Collection of accurate dataIdentification of suitable land for possible relocationLand Ownership in GeneralAbility to accommodate non citizens – Humanitarian issue

Lost OpportunitiesCancellation of a Donor ConferenceDecision to only use UK Funds for

infrastructural improvements directly related to Hurricane Ike’s ImpactSalt 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’dCanal Before Canal After

Successful Recovery Projects Cont’dTCICC Auditorium Before

TCICC Auditorium After

Successful Recovery Projects Cont’dOld Airport Hanger Before

Old Airport Hanger After

Successful Recovery Projects Cont’dMedical Clinic before Medical Clinic After

RecommendationsPlan in AdvanceCritical Pathway must be defined and

addressed i.e. Resource implicationsFlexibility 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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