Preventing Disasters In Disaster Recovery

PREVENTING DISASTERS IN DISASTER RECOVERY

BY ED KENNEDY, STAR BUSINESSWEEK CORRESPONDENT

Bois d’Orange Bridge which sustained severe structural damage due to debris carried by the floodwaters of Hurricane Tomas in 2010

Natural disasters are heart wrenching and expensive. Yet we can never shrink away from discussing them. Doing so only compounds their problems, but growing awareness and dialogue around them can help reduce their impact. Dealing with the impact of a natural disaster involves two time frames. The first is before impact, when the immediate safety of people and the securing of property are core goals. Ultimately, despite everyone’s best efforts, there is a limited amount of control that human beings have over this stage as Mother Nature takes whatever course she decides on. The second is dealing with the aftermath, the rebuilding of lives and communities, once the worst has passed. Here it’s different, as human beings can exert more control over the efforts to begin anew. Nonetheless, recovery from natural disasters is rarely a smooth affair. Alongside the size of a task, afflictions that can delay progress include corruption and waste. The costs of these unnecessary delays can be immense. Individuals lose livelihoods, neighbourhoods lose businesses that move away, communities lose families who lose hope and leave, vowing to never return. Reasons like these are why there is so much at stake in effectively recovering from a natural disaster, just as there is from withstanding one. It’s also why now is a good time to review and detail what more can be done as writers and readers of local media.

WHY IS DISASTER RECOVERY SO DIFFICULT?

Recognising what has been done well globally in disaster recovery (and what has been done poorly) is essential to identifying real avenues for progress in the Caribbean community. Many people don’t recognise just how far the damage of a natural disaster spans. The Caribbean family has first-hand knowledge in this area that would outpace many other citizens of the world but, even locally, a full and complete picture of a natural disaster’s reach can still surprise. The greatest challenges can be found once immediate needs are satisfied. Clean water is delivered, electricity is restored and temporary accommodation arranged for those in need. Immediate needs for people’s security and wellbeing today are met, and now there’s the task of providing for tomorrow. It’s here that the greatest risks in effective disaster recovery arise. When people first contemplate the idea of theft or misappropriation in disaster recovery, two thoughts often loom large. First, that those who engage in such crime are among the lowest of the low - and that is surely true. Second, that such crime could only occur in nations already embattled by challenges with corruption, weakened law enforcement, and other maladies.

Yet the theft of up to $1.4 billion from the US government’s emergency disaster relief fund provided for victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita shows this is not the case.

The tremendous generosity shown by good people donating $13.5 billion to Haitian recovery efforts after 2010’s horrific earthquake, has been undermined by clear mismanagement and inaction at the U.N.

These episodes are just two of many, but illustrate two key truths about proper disaster recovery. It’s an issue that impacts people locally and globally, whether in affluent or developing countries. Also, those who would engage in criminal action, or would otherwise harm recovery efforts (whether through deliberate act or omission), can come from any nation or global institution. So everyone near and far has a stake in ensuring the disaster recovery process improves.

The aftermath of a natural disaster is a prime breeding ground for crime. Besides the presence of genuine, well-meaning new individuals and groups, that bogus people may pose as humanitarian relief workers is to be expected. There will also be an absence of locals who may be assisting others elsewhere or have fled to safety.

An unfolding crisis is a fluid scenario, requiring many rapid decisions. This can dilute the chain of command and affect decisions taken. Growing accountability, transparency, and communication are central to improving disaster recovery processes.

READERS’ INPUT

Just as we continue to watch closely the disaster recovery efforts around the Caribbean, so, too, do we at STAR Businessweek always welcome hearing from our readers who’ve had direct experience with them. On Saturday June 30th we’ll be publishing a special edition dedicated to Disaster Preparedness & Business Continuity. Be sure to look out for it. Reach out to us direct via email or connect via Facebook. We are at the ready to hear from you and learn your story.