Disaster Risk Management for Coastal Tourism - Caribbean Hotel ...

5
Developing The Disaster
Preparedness Plan
5
5.1
Introduction
The previous Chapter presented steps for identifying hazards, evaluating
vulnerabilities, establishing plan study boundaries, and participant roles and
responsibilities, as all being essential for understanding the destination’s risk.
Chapter 5 guides the Coordinating Group through the process of developing the
disaster preparedness plan and supporting activities.
It is important to reiterate that community-level preparedness must be undertaken
within the national disaster management framework. Plan validity and relevance,
resource allocation and continuous improvement therefore, depend upon the
A transparent and participatory planning approach involving representation from
and the cooperation of all key stakeholders and sectors is the foundation of a good
preparedness plan. The next step is writing the plan.
The plan should provide guidance on:
Standard operating procedures for treating with the primary hazards that
threaten the tourism destination.
Assisting victims in the immediate aftermath of the disaster;
Post-disaster communication, strategies for working with the media and
including a public informational and outreach element;
Recovery planning and business continuity;
Exercising, testing and updating the plan;
The emphasis throughout the development process is based on APELL principles
of strengthening preparedness capability by involving the local stakeholders and
making the best use of the available local knowledge, experience and material
resources.
5.2
Plan Development Process
To review, the plan development process begins with establishing a Coordinating
Group and is followed by an intensive effort to understand the destination’s risk from
natural hazards and evaluating options to reduce that risk. Participants would next
have to review existing preparedness plans, identify gaps and weaknesses and then
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