During this quarter, CDMP and the Jamaica Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) conducted the final workshop for all CDMP hazard mapping activities in Jamaica. The individual components of the Kingston multi-hazard assessment—seismic, landslide and coastal storm hazards were presented and discussed in separate workshops, June 21–23. Each full-day workshop consisted of presentations describing the characteristics of the hazard in Jamaica, the findings of the CDMP-sponsored hazard mapping work and small group discussions to develop recommendations for the distribution and application of the hazard information. More details on the individual hazard presentations are provided in the following sections. On June 24, ODPEM presented the draft national hazard mitigation policy/plan and convened a panel of governmental and private sector representatives to discuss the way forward for hazard mitigation within Jamaica. These two distinct parts of the 4-day workshop supported each other well. The information developed under CDMP's Kingston multi-hazard assessment served as a tangible foundation for the policy discussion and draft policy document provides a critical framework for the use of this information and for guiding the development of further hazard maps and information for Jamaica.

The CDMP technical advisory committee met in Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic June 7–9. The primary topics on the meeting agenda were the discussion of the workplan for the final project period and a presentation and discussion of the findings of the external evaluation of the CDMP, conducted by USAID/OFDA. At this meeting it was decided to extend the project completion date to 31 December 1999.

The CDMP web site, http://www.oas.org/en/cdmp/, was updated with electronic versions of many older CDMP publications that had previously existed only in hardcopy form. The newly available documents include the full text of the Caribbean Hotel Association's Hurricane Procedures Manual, the Manual for Caribbean Electric Utilities Addressing the Issue of the Mitigation of Damage caused by Natural Hazards to Civil Works, the Case Study of the Effects of Hurricane Luis on the Buildings and other Structures of the Electricity Sector of the Antigua Public Utilities Authority and all documents from the landslide hazard component of the Kingston Jamaica multi-hazard assessment. These documents are available through the 'Papers and Publications' page on the web site, which can be found at http://www.oas.org/en/cdmp/publist.html.

The CDMP web site received over 4,000 requests during this quarter. The most popular pages included documents and progress bulletins related to insurance and economic impacts of hazards. The pages on CDMP activities in the Dominican Republic and the school/shelter vulnerability reduction activities were also frequently visited.

The CDMP technical advisory committee met in Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic June 7–9. The primary topics on the meeting agenda were the discussion of the workplan for the final project period and a presentation and discussion of the findings of the external evaluation of the CDMP, conducted by USAID/OFDA. At this meeting it was decided to extend the project completion date to 31 December 1999.

The CDMP was represented at the final regional meeting for the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction in Costa Rica, held 31 May–5 June 1999, by Jennifer Worrell, who presented the work and lessons of the CDMP at one of the major plenary meetings. CDMP also sponsored the participation of five representatives from the region to present information on the project's storm hazard modeling, safer housing, post-disaster reconstruction and mitigation planning activities. A copy of the declaration that was developed at this workshop is available on the web at http://www.disaster.info.desastres.net/idndr/hemiscr/ig_decla.htm.

During this quarter, CDMP and the Jamaica Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) conducted the final workshop for all CDMP hazard mapping activities in Jamaica. The individual components of the Kingston multi-hazard assessment—seismic, landslide and coastal storm hazards were presented and discussed in separate workshops, June 21–23. Each full-day workshop consisted of presentations describing the characteristics of the hazard in Jamaica, the findings of the CDMP-sponsored hazard mapping work and small group discussions to develop recommendations for the distribution and application of the hazard information. More details on the individual hazard presentations are provided in the following sections. On June 24, ODPEM presented the draft national hazard mitigation policy/plan and convened a panel of governmental and private sector representatives to discuss the way forward for hazard mitigation within Jamaica. These two distinct parts of the 4-day workshop supported each other well. The information developed under CDMP's Kingston multi-hazard assessment served as a tangible foundation for the policy discussion and draft policy document provides a critical framework for the use of this information and for guiding the development of further hazard maps and information for Jamaica.

The workshop was well attended, with representation from national governmental agencies, parish councils and the private sector. In the private sector, the insurance industry was particularly well represented. Approximately 50-60 people participated each day of the 4-day workshop.

During this quarter, the Jamaica Institute of Engineers (JIE) continued work on the final report for the Montego Bay hazard assessment. Much of the work during this period focused on the preparation of a map of storm hazards in Montego Bay and the development of a policy framework for the use of storm hazard information for economic and physical planning in Jamaica. The storm hazard map is being developed using orthorectified aerial photography, on which the TAOS model results for the area are overlaid. The guidelines are under development in conjunction with the Town Planning Department, the JIE and other appropriate agencies and organizations. The proposed development guidelines will be based on a minimum recommended base elevation, rather than the setback distances currently in use. The recommended elevations, when fully implemented for the island, would vary along the coastline, based on the level of storm surge hazard along each section of the coast. Drafts of the surge map and the proposed guidelines were presented at the workshop in Jamaica in late June. Comments received at this workshop will be incorporated into the final version of these materials.

In addition to the map and guidelines, the final product of this work will include a final copy of the Montego Bay hazard assessment report and guidelines for the engineering use of storm hazard information in Jamaica. Work on the Montego Bay hazard assessment is expected to be complete by early August. The results of this work, including the maps and GIS data produced, will be distributed on CDROM.

The Kingston multi-hazard assessment is nearing completion. The June 21-24 workshop was the final workshop to be held as part of this activity. Each of the individual components of the multi-hazard study will be complete early in the next quarter. A final report, which summarizes the findings of the three studies, will be completed early in the final quarter of 1999. All reports, data and maps assembled or developed under this project will be compiled for final distribution on a CDROM to ensure wide dissemination of all project materials.

Landslide hazard assessment. Work on the landslide hazard assessment was completed with a three-day workshop in January 1999. At the June KMA workshop, Rafi Ahmad, the principal investigator for this study, again presented the findings of the study, along with recommendations on what can be done to minimize landslide hazards. In addition to the KMA study, results of a British Geological Survey study of landslides in central Jamaica and a landslide study in Portland, carried out by Mines & Geology, were presented. All materials produced for the CDMP landslide hazard assessment are available through the progress bulletin for this activity.

Seismic susceptibility. During this quarter, the final draft of the seismic component of the Kingston multi-hazard assessment was presented at the June workshop in Kingston. All members of the team responsible for developing the report—Margaret Grandison of the UWI-Mona Earthquake Unit, Norman Harris of Mines & Geology and Stuart Nishenko and William McCann of Natural Disaster Research, Inc.—participated in the presentation. Comments and recommendations made at the June workshop will be incorporated into the final report for the seismic hazard assessment.

Coastal storm surge and wind hazard susceptibility. During this quarter, draft storm hazard maps for Kingston were produced from the results of the TAOS-based statistical assessment. These maps were displayed at the June workshop. The guidelines and materials discussed under the Montego Bay assessment are being developed so that they are applicable to all storm hazard information available in Jamaica, including the Kingston information and maps.

The final workshop for this activity has been scheduled for September 1999. Other Central American hydrology and meteorology agencies have been invited to participate in this workshop.

CDMP has completed its contribution to this project.

Systematic Production of MEOWs at the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH). During this quarter, the CIMH (formerly the Caribbean Meteorological Institute) fully tested the newest version of TAOS/L, in preparation for production of MEOW maps for additional Eastern Caribbean states. CDMP and CIMH also coordinated on the planning and organization of a final TAOS/L user training, to be held at CIMH in July 1999. This training will focus on the use of TAOS/L to produce maps of active storm systems and to produce atlases of Maximum Envelope of Water (MEOW) maps.

During this quarter, Jamaica ODPEM completed and presented a draft of the national hazard mitigation policy and plan. See section 3.1.2 above for more information.

As a follow-up to the Hazard Mapping and Vulnerability Assessment workshop, held in Grenada in March 1999, CDMP invited a number of countries to prepare proposals for national hazard mitigation activities for consideration for funding by CDMP. During this quarter, a proposal for a national hazard mitigation consultation in Belize was received and accepted.

Further information is available on the progress bulletin describing the workshop.

At the June multi-hazard workshop in Kingston, the Seismic Research Unit of UWI-St. Augustine presented the maps produced by this project showing seismic hazard estimates for Jamaica. These maps show ground acceleration and velocity and seismic intensity for sub-regions of the Caribbean. A guidebook on the use of these maps for engineering design is forthcoming.

The CDMP national coordinator advised Peace Corps and UMCOR on training for disaster management, available materials and potential trainers. CDMP Haiti also undertook the translation of the OFDA DMI course in French. This work should be completed in the beginning of the next quarter. The national coordinator also facilitated the OFDA evaluation mission, which visited Haiti in April.

Community Initiatives: The national coordinator visited each one of the three local committees to assist them in formulating proposals for small community based projects. The management structure and objectives of the Corail project, a watershed reforestation and tree farm project, were finalized. Two other projects are being prepared.

Strengthening of the Jeremie Committee: CDMP is supporting the Committee to establish itself as an NGO, working out of the offices of the local Red Cross. The necessary institutional and operational arrangements were nearly completed during this quarter.

The report on the vulnerability assessment of Jeremie was completed by the end of May. Translation in French of the study has started. Copies in English were made available to several of the international NGO partners of CDMP.

During this quarter, two more national workshops on hurricane preparedness in the hotel industry were held in the region. In May, a workshop was held in Antigua, co-sponsored by CDMP and the CHA (CDMP covered the costs of the facilitator)—approximately 15 hotel representatives participated in this workshop. In June, CHA organized a workshop in the Bahamas. The costs of this workshop were covered by the participants—over 35 people attended this workshop. In the next quarter, additional workshops will be organized by CHA in Barbados and St. Kitts and by CDMP in the Dominican Republic.

The material covered in the workshops was based on the content of the CHA Hurricane Procedures Manual. During this quarter, the full text of this manual was made available on the CDMP web site. The Spanish version of the manual will be ready for distribution in the next quarter.

This activity is complete.

During this quarter UTECH (Jamaica) continued development of safer construction modules for integration into its existing curriculum. These modules will be completed in time for use in the fall of 1999.

During this quarter, the probable maximum loss study for Dominica, St. Kitts and St. Lucia was completed. The final report has been duplicated and is being distributed to interested parties. The text of this report will be available on the CDMP web page during the next quarter.

In May, CHF approved and disbursed a loan tranche of $20,000 to the National Development Foundation of Antigua & Barbuda. The NDF-AB will use these funds for on-lending to moderate- and low-income families in Antigua under the terms and conditions of the CDMP Hurricane-resistant Home Improvement Lending Program.

During this quarter, no applications for housing retrofits were processed. NDFD attributes this to the public's continued preference for NDF's other home improvement loan products. With the onset of the 1999 hurricane season, NDFD has begun to promote the retrofit component. Nine loans were closed during this quarter, bringing the total retrofit portfolio to 13 loans.

No quarterly report was available from CARITAS at the time of writing this report.

The team contracted by the CDMP for the updating of the Caribbean Uniform Building Code (CUBiC) has substantially completed its activities during this quarter. The team reviewed a number of existing codes to determine the most appropriate base code to be used in CUBiC-2000. They also distributed a survey questionnaire to obtain relevant information from practicing engineers in the Caribbean. Using CDB guidelines, the team prepared and submitted a concept proposal to OAS and CDB, and has nearly completed the full project proposal to implement the CUBIC-2000 project. This proposal will be submitted to the CDB in July, and will subsequently be presented to the CDB Board of Directors for approval for financing.

During this quarter, CDMP continued work on assisting Grenada with the development of a national building code. Government ministries, agencies and organizations associated with building and construction in Grenada have had the opportunity to review and comment on the OECS model building code, which was distributed during last quarter. CDMP consultants will visit the country in early August to discuss the results of the review, and to finalize the code and guidelines for Grenada.

During this quarter, CDMP initiated its assistance to Belize in developing a national building code. CDMP contracted a Caribbean consultant who carried out the initial consultations and prepared a detailed workplan. CDMP is assisting the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry with the coordination of this activity, including the contracting of a local coordinator for 8 months.

This quarter also, CDMP initiated its support to the Barbados government for the establishment of a formal Building Authority and to help finalize the necessary legislation and administrative structure for this authority. The scope of work was agreed upon and a Caribbean consultant was contracted. He will spend 6 weeks in Barbados starting early July.

Finally, CDMP contracted an engineering design firm to update the engineering drawings that form part of the building guidelines that accompany the Codes. The new drawings should be delivered early August. The final drawings are being created in a CAD program, so that they can be inserted directly into design documents. The drawings will be distributed in printed and electronic formats. The CDMP also supported the printing of the St. Lucia building code and guidelines, and has sent multiple copies to the country.

During this quarter, United Insurance held several meeting with several other companies operating in Antigua and Barbuda, to explore the feasibility of launching a retrofit for premium reduction initiative similar to what has been launched by United in Barbados. By the end of the quarter, the company indicated that they are preparing to start such an initiative, and will be submitting a request for support from CDMP.

This activity is complete.

See section 4.1 for information on post-Georges activities in the Dominican Republic.

This activity is complete.