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

Regional Disaster Risk Management Strategy for the Tourism Sector in the Caribbean – Final
Disaster response is predominantly focused on immediate and short-term needs and is sometimes called “disaster relief”. The
division between this response stage and the subsequent recovery stage is not clear-cut. Some response actions, such as the supply
of temporary housing and water supplies, may extend well into the recovery stage. (UNISDR 2009)
The response phase includes the mobilization of the necessary emergency services and first responders in
the disaster area. This is likely to include a first wave of core emergency and medical services, such as firefighters,
police and ambulance crews. They may be supported by a number of secondary emergency
services, such as specialist rescue teams. The focus of the response phase is to save lives and provide
assistance to victims. A well rehearsed emergency/disaster plan developed as part of the preparedness
phase enables efficient coordination of rescue. Where required, search and rescue efforts commence at an
early stage. Depending on injuries sustained by the victims, outside temperature, and victims’ access to air
and water, the vast majority of those affected by a disaster will die within 72 hours after impact 37 . Speed of
the initial rescue efforts is therefore vital.
Depending on the nature of the event, there may numerous people left homeless requiring shelter and
assistance. Tourism accommodation facilities located in the affected community – if left serviceable – may
play a critical role in the community response effort and as such are a resource. However, their operation
capability may be dependent on the restoration of essential services.
3.4.1.1 An Industry on Hold
Tourism activity in the normal sense ceases to exist during the response phase. Tourists caught by an
event will either be at or converge on their accommodation facilities. The tourism accommodation
facilities face the challenge of providing the best possible service to their stranded guests, with possibly
reduced resources: structures that may have been more or less damaged; reduced personnel availability;
essential services potentially interrupted; and, a disrupted supply system. The challenge could be even
further exacerbated if the facility is deemed essential to provide temporary shelter to other victims.
3.4.1.2 Perception is Reality
The sustainability of a tourism establishment is linked to customer satisfaction and reputation at source
markets. In area tourists and the media will be the vectors conveying the information to the source
markets. Communications during the response phase are essential to reassure not only the affected
population but also source markets. A response perceived as chaotic or even disorganized can have a longterm
impact on the future of the industry in the affected country – and in the case of the Caribbean, the
region can also be affected. Communicating to the general population affected by the event is, of course,
essential during the response; it is an operational necessity. However, communications targeting the
external audiences are also essential and these may take a different form and require different skills.
Countries in the Caribbean have recognized this reality and have instituted a novel approach to manage
communications relying on off-shore resources 38 .
How the response is perceived by tourists at the tourism establishment level is dependent on the response
is conducted in the community where the venue is located. In a sense, notwithstanding the level of
preparedness and efficient execution of its emergency response plan, a tourism establishment is hostage to
what happens in its community.
37 Walker, Peter (1991). International Search and Rescue Teams, A League Discussion Paper. Geneva.
38 Crisis Communications Manual for the Islands of the Bahamas, 2006.
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