Seychelles Damage, Loss, and Needs Assessment (DaLA ... - GFDRR

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Seychelles Damage, Loss and Needs Assessment (DaLA) 2013 Floods
Table 2.29 Expenses Incurred by DRDM during the Flood
Item Cost (SR) Cost (US$) Remarks
Food 104,837 8,387 Supplied to EOC and all first-responder agencies’ staff on site
Transportation 235,421 18,834 Zil Air, ferry, fuel
Equipment 121,481 9,718 Raincoats, torches, batteries, boots
La Digue accommodation 53,900 4,312 SFRSA staff to La Digue
Consultant 12,500 1,000 DRDM
Coral fill 92,000 7,360 La Digue
Total 620,139 49,611
Source: DRDM, 2013
Institutional Assessment
Key Issues
DRDM has many issues and factors impeding optimum
delivery of its services. Due to a lack of staff, most staff
undertake tasks intended for another full-time staff
along with their own job responsibilities. Despite the
request to hire at least 10 more employees, budgetary
constraints have prevented the funds from being
earmarked.
Currently, the NEOC is located inside the meeting
room of the DRDM office and is activated when disasters
occur. This meeting room also serves as the gathering
place for the NDC. During a disaster, this area
becomes crowded and working conditions deteriorate.
It has been proposed that a fully functional office be
built, allowing for both office work and NEOC operations
during any given time (normal time or a disaster
period). Funding is available, but the location has yet
to be allocated.
Transportation was a problem during this past disaster
event: there were not enough vehicles or drivers to fetch
staff to be brought to the NEOC. This is due to the lack
of both staff with licenses and authorization to drive
government vehicles, and of available adequate vehicles.
Currently, DRDM has four vehicles, two of which
need to be replaced due to age and wear and tear.
A Virtual Emergency Operations Center (VEOC) has
been recommended for use between DRDM and all
first-responder agencies. This would mean that higher-level
staff unable to make it to the VEOC due to
blocked roads, etc., could access the VEOC and be virtually
involved in the decision-making processes as well
as fully updated on all issues in the NEOC and in the
field. Internet access and training for users would be
necessary to establish the system.
It was noted that some DRDM staff and staff temporarily
recruited during the disaster were not adequately
trained to log issues and work efficiently. There were
no proper standardized forms for registering, cataloguing
issues, and dealing with complaints. Training
for communication and intermediate IT skills for some
staff has also been identified as part of needed capacity
building for the division.
Proposed Recovery Plan
DRDM has identified the following needs for better risk
preparedness, response, and recovery:
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The National Emergency Operations Center (discussed
above). As of this report, the government has
not confirmed the site location. The total construction
cost will be SR 18 million (US$1.44 million). Currently,
the budget is available, but finding a suitable
site is a challenge. The negotiation and identification
is ongoing between the MLUH and the Environment
Department.
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Equipment
• Approximately 10 desktop computers are needed
in order to consolidate the existing system. During
the most recent disaster, many computers were