Disaster Risk Management Strategy and Plan of Action - Caribbean ...

Regional Disaster Risk Management Strategy for the Tourism Sector in the Caribbean – Final
3. Regional Strategic Objectives
This section presents the Strategic Objectives of the Regional Strategy, which are presented in accordance
with the phase of the DRM cycle for which they are most relevant: mitigation, preparedness, response, or
recovery. For each phase, a definition is presented, followed by some key aspects of the phase that help to
set the context. The RSOs for the phase are then presented and key needed activities for their achievement
are listed for both the regional and national levels. They form the basis of the Regional Plan of Action. A
Framework Diagram of the RSOs and key Draft Activities is presented in Annex I. Activities undertaken at
the regional level are insufficient by themselves to attain RSOs and complementary and supporting
activities are needed at the national level. These are identified and should form part of National Strategies
and Plans of Action.
3.1 Mitigation Specific Strategic Objectives
3.1.1 Mitigation
Mitigation
The lessening or limitation of the adverse impacts of hazards and related disasters.
The adverse impacts of hazards often cannot be prevented fully, but their scale or severity can be substantially lessened by
various strategies and actions. Mitigation measures encompass engineering techniques and hazard-resistant construction as well
as improved environmental policies and public awareness. It should be noted that in climate change policy, “mitigation” is
defined differently, being the term used for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions that are the source of climate change
(UNISDR 2009)
Although mitigation strategies are implemented in the pre-event timeframe (as a phase runs concurrently
with preparedness) they can also be implemented as part of the recovery process if applied after a disaster
occurs. The difference is that pre-event mitigation is broader in scope as it tries to address a variety of
potential hazards while mitigation implemented as part of recovery tends to be narrower in scope as it is
focused on the hazard experienced. Mitigation measures are hazard specific as they may reduce the
potential impact from a particular hazard but not necessarily from another.
Mitigation measures fall in two general categories: hard and soft. Hard mitigation measures are structural
in nature and try to use technological solutions to reduce the impact of the hazard. Therefore, they are
based on scientific knowledge of the hazard and on technology. Soft or non-structural measures include
such things as legislation, regulations and land-use planning. These also are based on knowledge of the
hazard but rather than rely on technology they strive to change behaviour.
Key elements of the Mitigation Phase are:
‣ Knowledge Development
‣ Risk Identification
‣ Risk Assessment
‣ Risk Transfer
20