· The CDMP has established a project management office at Headquarters, a regional coordinating office in Jamaica, and a project office in the Dominican Republic.

· The project has convened three meetings of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), established to provide policy guidance and periodic review of the project.

· Pilot activities were initiated in all areas of the project, in accordance with the detailed workplan for October 93 - December 94.

· Working with the Regional Coordinator and in consultation with RHUDO/CAR, the Project Director completed budgeting and program planning for the calendar year 1995.

· An evaluation specialist has been contracted by OAS to design and implement a project monitoring and evaluation system. The specialist, working with CDMP and RHUDO/CAR staff and consultants, has produced a final draft of the performance "logframes", now called "monitoring and evaluation matrices".

· CDMP staff and the project's evaluation specialist attended an OFDA reporting seminar and revised the project quarterly reporting format, as directed, to reflect the structure and content of these matrices.

· CDMP reformatted its financial reporting to reflect recorded expenditures.

· CDMP reported on its activities to the new OAS Secretary-General.

· The 1995 CDMP project budget and rolling workplan were circulated to all TAC members in January 1995.

· A Public Education, Information and Training Strategy was adopted, based on a proposal developed by the RHUDO/CAR Regional Disaster Advisor, with inputs from CDMP and USAID.

· In the first quarter of 1994, CDMP and the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC) agreed to collaborate on a pilot vulnerability assessment of an electrical utility.

· The St. Lucia Electricity Services Ltd. (LUCELEC) was selected as a pilot site and, in February 1994, an OAS/USAID CDMP team undertook a programming mission to the site and prepared a scope of work for a vulnerability audit of the facilities owned and operated by LUCELEC.

· To ensure that the study would be representative of all types of installation in the Caribbean, an assessment of the hydroelectric installations of the Dominica Electric Utility (DOMLEC) was included.

· An inception report, including a preliminary assessment of the vulnerability of LUCELEC's facilities and recommendations for mitigation measures, was presented and discussed in a meeting with the consultants, CARILEC, LUCELEC and the CDMP team on Sept. 30.

· Field work was completed on the hydroelectric installations in Dominica.

· A project review meeting was held at the offices of CARILEC in February 1995, to review the work of all consultants (CEP Engineering: LUCELEC facility audit; McLean Engineering: LUCELEC T&D audit; USFS Jerry DeGraff: DOMLEC Hydroelectric audit)

· A proposal was prepared to undertake a pilot wind risk study and produce recommendations for the entire region is under study. Applied Research Associates, the leader in wind risk studies to T&D installations, has been identified as consultant.

· CDMP developed a PC-based numerical storm hazard assessment model (TAOS), and conducted a quantitative assessment of the tropical storm hazards affecting Jamaica.

· A Technical Working Group (TWG) was formed from among the agencies directly interested in the hazard mapping and its applications. CDMP made available a GIS software package and GIS training to members of the TWG.

· Coastal flooding hazard maps of the Montego Bay area were completed in late May. The maps were presented to the Mayor of the City of Montego Bay, and to the public at a seminar attended by 48 professionals, held on June 2, 1994, in Kingston.

· The Montego Bay hazard maps are available to be used by the local Parish Council to identify safe evacuation routes and to sensitize residents in the identified risk areas, and by the Greater Montego Bay Development Company to identify vulnerable locations and the hazards which would threaten potential development sites.

· The Portland Parish Disaster Committee received copies of these maps and requested that the coastline and river valleys of their parish also be mapped for natural hazards. The CDMP determined that requests like these would be best answered by Technical Working Group members once they have assimilated the training and have developed the capacity to operate the model.

· The staff meteorologist of the Jamaica Broadcast Corporation (JBC - Television) was invited to participate in the storm hazard modelling training activities.

· The TAOS Storm Hazard Assessment Model was installed at the Jamaica Office of Disaster Preparedness (ODP) and staff members of ODP, the Meteorological Office, and a representative of the Jamaica Broadcast Corporation (JBC) were trained in its use.

· CDMP co-sponsored a Regional Floodplain Hazard Mapping Workshop in collaboration with the Hydrological Support Unit of the Underground Water Authority, a member-institution of the Jamaica TWG.

· A meeting was held with the Jamaican Institute of Engineers on May 15-16 to review the first set of Montego Bay flood maps.

· The National Land Policy Committee at the Office of the Prime Minister has accepted CDMP recommendations on the incorporation of various disaster management policies and techniques in Land Policy.

· The Real Time Forecasting (RTFS) application of the TAOS storm hazard assessment model was installed in the Caribbean Meteorological Institute (CMI), Barbados, and staff of CMI, the National Meteorological Service and CDERA were trained in its application.

· A one-week GIS training course in IDRISI was held at the Jamaica College of Arts and Sciences (CAST), attended by 16 participants selected by CDMP from institutions participating in the project's technical working group.

· CDMP project staff of OAS and RHUDO/CAR visited Belize in January 1995 at government's invitation to program a storm surge and flood hazard assessment for the country.

· CDMP prepared wind and storm surge hazard maps for Hispaniola

· Following CDMP participation in a workshop held in Barbados, January 1994, on harmonization of building code legislation (organized by UNDP/UNCHS and the OECS - Natural Resources Management Unit), a joint effort between UNCHS and USAID/OAS CDMP was planned in improving building standards and codes in the region.

· A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the General Secretariat of the OAS, the United Nations Development Program, and the UN Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) which commits the signatories to a joint pilot project for Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, and St. Lucia.

· Antigua & Barbuda and Dominica commented on a model building code prepared under a UNCHS-sponsored program for the OECS countries, and thus qualified for assistance.

· Public consultations on the draft code were initiated in Antigua and Barbuda in April 1995.

· CDMP, in association with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA) and USAID's Caribbean Regional Housing & Urban Development Office (RHUDO/CAR) conducted a region-wide inventory of NGOs and private sector institutions which could be effective agents in the promotion of hurricane vulnerability reduction for low income housing. Based on the analysis of this inventory, St. Lucia and Dominica were selected as pilot project countries.

· The Cooperative Housing Foundation (CHF) was contracted by the OAS to work with these NGOs to advance this process and to negotiate the terms by which they will extend credit to seed a revolving loan fund over a three-year period.

· In April 1994, representatives of each of the selected countries attended a one-week Regional Workshop in Jamaica, where they focused on the design, development and funding of National Hurricane Vulnerability Retrofitting and Safe Construction Programs.

· In June 1994, a CDMP team travelled to these countries to facilitate formation of National Project Advisory Committees (NPAC) and selection of non-governmental lead agencies for the programs.

· In August 1994, the lead NGOs were contracted for each country (CARITAS in St. Lucia, and the National Development Foundation of Dominica in Dominica) to develop and institutionalize the retrofit and safe construction programs, and to design and implement technical training programs, small revolving loan programs and publicity programs to promote retrofitting and safer construction practices.

· In St. Lucia, CARITAS and the National Research and Development Foundation (NRDF) surveyed five communities and selected two (Dennery, Gros Islet) for intensive outreach campaigns and selection of participating households. Fourteen households were selected in Dennery, and 10 in Gros Islet.

· The Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC) was contracted by CARITAS to train artisans and builders. Fifteen artisans of the participating communities were trained in time to start retrofitting activities in early January 1995.

· NRDF prepared loan approval criteria and loan application questionnaires, and decided to place its own capital into the revolving loan fund to supplement CHF's contribution of approximately US$ 30,000, at the target level of 1 EC Dollar to every US Dollar invested.

· NRDF was successful in attracting substantial local funding for a revolving loan, and to start its own housing improvement program with a safety upgrade/retrofit component.

· CARITAS and NRDF discontinued their partnership and started independent versions of the original retrofit program, with CARITAS following the original design and NRDF focusing on home improvement with a safety upgrade/retrofitting component.

· In Dominica, the National Development Foundation of Dominica (NDFD) completed community surveys and credit studies in 12 villages, and held outreach programs in 3 communities.

· The Safe Shelter Initiative (SSI) was contracted to design training workshops and train estimators and builders in the selected communities.

· A project management committee consisting of NDFD, SSI and the National Disaster Coordinator was set up.

· Loan criteria were established and promotion efforts coordinated with the hurricane season.

· Attempts were made to initiate collaboration between the CDMP and the Barbados-based Insurance Association of the Caribbean (IAC) in preparing a risk management strategy and workplan addressing issues of regional insurance. A proposal was made to facilitate the establishment of a data bank for the Caribbean insurance industry, to formulate policy and technical orientation, to develop training materials that might improve property risk underwriting practices, and to assist with a probable maximum loss assessment for the region.

· CDMP began discussions with a variety of insurance groups based in the United States who could act as technical resources in assisting the Caribbean insurance industry. Included were the recently-created Insurance Institute for Property Loss Reduction (IIPLR), the Applied Insurance Institute, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and the American Institute of Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriters of the United States. The Boston-based IIPLR was selected as the lead resource since its mission is strongly related to the objectives of CDMP.

· In association with the Insurance College of Jamaica (ICOJ) and the Jamaica Association of General Insurance Companies (JAGIC), CDMP convened a two-day seminar for Senior Insurance Management Executives on "Sector Initiatives in Underwriting and Probable Maximum Loss Calculation for Improved Reinsurance Availability", held in Kingston, November 17-18, 1995. The conference featured presentations by the Insurance Institute for Property Loss Reduction (IIPLR) and by experts from the region, and was attended by approximately 60 participants from seven countries (Jamaica, Bahamas, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Belize and the USA) representing individual insurance companies, brokers, industry associations and training institutions, government officials, and the directors of CDERA and the Insurance Association of the Caribbean (IAC).

· In May 1995 CDMP and the Camera de Aseguradoras de la Republica Dominicana (CADOAR) held a two day workshop on Probable Maximum Loss (PML) calculation with participation of five US based risk management firms.

· CDMP started the preparation of a "Working Paper on Catastrophe Protection in the Caribbean" in support of a CARICOM initiative to address critical insurance issues. The work is carried out in consultation with the Chairman of the CARICOM working party on insurance and reinsurance. At the invitation of the OAS, the World Bank has joined the effort. Consultants from CDMP and the World Bank visited Trinidad during the IAC Annual General Meeting, and Jamaica to consult with the chairman of the CARICOM working party.

· Following the project start-up workshop in February 1994, a temporary project advisory committee of 11 institutions was established.

· The committee identified as a first priority for the project the establishment of a coordination and communication mechanism for effective involvement of the NGO and private sector communities in disaster management in the country.

· Systematic interviews were held with interested NGOs and private companies to establish an inventory of their skills and resources and to identify focal points for emergency management.

· On September 1, at the request of the committee, OAS contracted a local project officer for one year to support the committee and coordinate project activities. The project officer operates from the local OAS Office.

· Several public awareness and information campaigns were organized.

· A Permanent Advisory Committee was constituted for the project with five NGO members, five private sector members, and two representatives of public sector agencies.

· The Committee held a major public seminar on November 10 to present the project strategy to more than 175 representatives of the private sector, the public sector and NGO community.

· CDMP, CARE-Dominicana and USAID/OFDA-Costa Rica co-sponsored the first of five training courses in disaster management attended by 28 people, representing member organization of the CDMP Advisory Committee such as the Red Cross, Civil Defense, and several national NGOs and private companies.

· Media presentations were initiated to inform the private sector and NGOs and to generate interest in CDMP objectives and activities.

· The Permanent Advisory Committee established working groups for each strategic element of the project (Training, Coordination/Communication, Information, Public Education, Community

· Public information and education campaigns, and specialized training courses in disaster preparedness are being scheduled on a regular basis.

· Several graduates of the CDMP training courses are instrumental in setting up disaster preparedness committees in their communities, Several more communities are requesting information on disaster risk and on the activities of the project.

· Sensitize population and government agencies to natural hazard vulnerability and opportunities for preparedness and prevention

· Assist the Government of Haiti Commission de Prevention et de Gestion de Desastres 1995 (C.P.G.D.95) in institutionalizing disaster management in the country.

· Support coordination/cooperation between public sector and the private sector and NGO community in the promotion of disaster preparedness and prevention.

· Strengthen the capacity of government planning and environmental management agencies to assess natural hazards and identify hazard prone areas

· Promote incorporation of hazard considerations in the design of infrastructure rehabilitation projects.

· Introduce community based disaster preparedness in ongoing humanitarian assistance and rural development projects.

· The Post-Disaster Mitigation activity was added to the set of CDMP program activities following the March 1994 meeting of the Technical Advisory Committee, which was held in New Orleans concurrently with the US National Hurricane Symposium. The activity was designed and budgeted prior to onset of the 1994 hurricane season.

· CDMP has made provisions to assist countries affected by disasters in incorporating mitigation activities into reconstruction projects. These provisions have included contacting disaster focal point officers within the multilateral reconstruction/disaster relief donor/technical assistance community for the purpose of coordinating efforts.

· Following Tropical Storm Debby, which caused approximately $37 million in damage to St. Lucia, the CDMP located specialists in hydrology and landslide hazards who are able to assess these damages and provide mitigation recommendations to the reconstruction effort.

· A CDMP post-disaster team of two experts (a US Forest Service landslide specialist and a geotechnical engineering consultant) was dispatched to St. Lucia to carry out an inventory and analysis of the impacts of the landslides caused by the storm. The team worked closely with a World Bank Mission studying a loan application for reconstruction.

· An updated landslide hazard map and recommendations for landslide-resistant design of roads and infrastructure, landslide avoidance through land use controls, and farm practices that ensure greater hillside stability were submitted to the Government of St. Lucia and the World Bank.

· The World Bank has incorporated the recommendations of the CDMP post-Debby landslide hazard assessment in their reconstruction loan program for St. Lucia, approved in July.

· CDMP collaborated with PAHO and the University of the West Indies in sponsoring a regional workshop on "Disaster Mitigation for Medium-Sized Institutional Buildings" in Port of Spain, March 1995.

· The CDMP project director and GIS consultant participated, by invitation, in a NOAA sponsored workshop on Atlantic Hurricane Vulnerability on Decadal Time Scales: Nature, Causes and Socio-Economic Impact, held in Coral Gables, February 1995.

· The CDMP project director presented a paper on "Engaging Planners and Investors in the Assessment of Storm Risk in Jamaica" at the Ninth Applied Climatology Conference of the American Meteorological Society, in Dallas, January 1995.

· The CDMP regional coordinator participated in the French sponsored ICAROS workshop in Dominica, March 1995.

· The CDMP was invited to present the TAOS storm hazard assessment model and its applications at the 17th Session of the RAIV Hurricane Committee of the World Meteorological Organization in Guadeloupe, April 4 - 8, 1995.