View source for Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency

{{Short description|Intergovernmental network}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Sources exist|date=May 2023}}
{{Citation style|date=May 2023}}
}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Politics of the Caribbean Community}}
The '''Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency''' ('''CDEMA''')<ref name="UIA">{{Cite web |url=https://uia.org/s/or/en/1100020973 |url-access= |title=Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) |author1=Staff writer |year=2024 |department=UIA Global Civil Society Database |website=uia.org |publisher=[[Union of International Associations]] |agency=Yearbook of International Organizations Online |location=Brussels, Belgium |format= |arxiv= |asin= |bibcode= |doi= |doi-broken-date= |isbn= |issn= |jfm= |jstor= |lccn= |mr= |oclc= |ol= |osti= |pmc= |pmid= |rfc= |ssrn= |zbl= |id= |access-date=24 December 2024 |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |via= |quote= |trans-quote= |ref= |postscript=}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/newsitem.asp?NewsID=3645 |title=CDERA prepares for change in name, mandate |publisher=Barbados Advocate |access-date=2009-05-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215152339/http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/newsitem.asp?NewsID=3645 |archive-date=2012-02-15 }}</ref> is an inter-regional supportive network of independent emergency units throughout the [[Caribbean]] region. Formed on September 1, 2005, as the '''Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency''' ('''CDERA'''), it underwent a name change to CDEMA in September 2009.

== Members ==
The participating member states and agencies of the CDEMA include:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Country
! Organisation
|-
| {{AIA}}
| ''Department of Disaster Management (DDM)''
|-
|{{ATG}}
| ''[[National Office of Disaster Services|National Office of Disaster Services (NODS)]]''
|-
|{{BHS}}
| ''National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)''
|-
|{{BRB}}
| ''Department of Emergency Management (DEM)''
|-
|{{BLZ}} 
| ''[[National Emergency Management Organization (Belize)|National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO)]]''
|-
| {{IVB}}
| ''Department of Disaster Management (DDM)''
|-
| {{DMA}}
| ''Office of Disaster Management (ODM)''
|-
| {{Flagcountry|Grenada}}
| ''National Disaster Management Agency (NaDMA)''
|-
| {{Flagcountry|Guyana}}
| ''Civil Defense Commission (CDC)''
|-
| {{Flagcountry|Haiti}}
| ''Directorate of Civil Protection (DPC)''
|-
| {{JAM}}
| ''Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM)''
|-
| {{MSR}}
| ''Disaster Management Coordination Agency (DMCA)''
|-
| {{SKN}}
| ''National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)''
|-
| {{LCA}}
| ''National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO)''
|-
| {{VIN}}
| ''National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO)''
|-
| {{Flagcountry|Suriname}}
| ''National Coordination Center For Disaster Relief (NCCR)''
|-
| {{TRI}}
| ''Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM)''
|-
| {{Flagcountry|Turks and Caicos Islands}}
| ''Department of Disaster Management & Emergencies (DDME)''
|-
|}

== Activities ==
The stated role of the CDEMA is to coordinate disaster response to member countries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cdema.org/about-us#what-is-cdema-s-mandate|title=About Us - CDEMA|website=www.cdema.org|access-date=2019-04-02}}</ref> CDEMA personnel worked in [[Grenada]] and [[Jamaica]] in early September 2004 after the passage of [[Hurricane Ivan]].

During the mid-1990s, CDEMA provided disaster support for the eruption of the [[Soufriere Hills volcano]] in [[Montserrat]]. The CDEMA also regularly monitors the [[Soufrière Hills|Soufriere Hills volcano]], in addition to the active undersea volcano named [[Kick 'em Jenny]], to the north of [[Grenada]].  Members of the [[Regional Security System]] have also requested military and logistical assistance through the agency after natural disasters.{{Cn|date=December 2023}}

== Background ==
The [[Pan-Caribbean]] Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Project (PCDPPP) was established in July 1984 to minimize the damage caused by severe weather conditions in the [[Caribbean]] region and the [[Gulf of Mexico]]. Prior to the establishment of the PCDPPP, disasters in the area were addressed by private donors.<ref name=Thompson>{{cite thesis|last=Thompson|first=Denise D.P.|date=May 2010|title=Building Effectiveness in Multi-State Disaster Management Systems: The Case of the Caribbean Disaster and Emergency Response Agency|page=27|type=PhD|publisher=[[Pennsylvania State University]]|id=UMI Number: 33420294|url=http://rcim.rmutr.ac.th/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/320-Building-effectiveness-in-multi-state-disaster-.pdf|access-date=January 23, 2017}}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}<!-- also at https://etda.libraries.psu.edu/catalog/10473 --></ref>
 
The PCDPPP was a collection of international sponsors such as the [[United States Agency for International Development]] (USAID), the [[Canadian International Development Agency]], the [[Government of the Netherlands]], and the United Nations Disaster Relief Organization (UNDRO). The PCDPPP failed to break the Caribbean's direct and indirect dependence on [[Europe]] and the [[United States]]. Ultimately, the PCDPPP failed to achieve full participation from Caribbean countries.

In 1989, after the widespread destruction of [[Hurricane Hugo]], there was a focus on creating more effective natural disaster management and preparedness. In 1991, the Caribbean Disaster and Emergency Response Agency (CDERA) was created.<ref>Leonard James Huggins "Comprehensive Disaster Management and Development: The Role of Geoinformatics and Geo-Collaboration in Linking Mitigation and Disaster Recovery in the Eastern Caribbean." (PhD. Diss., MPPM, [[University of Pittsburgh]], 2007), 7-8.</ref> CDERA was formed by 16 participating Caribbean nations. With this organization, Caribbean countries had regional support along with international support. This increased the probability of aid coming from regional sources. CDERA would later change its name to CDEMA, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency.

== History ==
[[File:Hugo 1989-09-21 1900Z.png|thumb|Satellite image of [[Hurricane Hugo]] from September 21, 1989]]
In 1989, [[Hurricane Hugo]] struck the Caribbean. Relief still relied on foreign aid from countries such as the [[United States]]. By 1990, the insurance companies were criticizing the PCDPPP and how it was necessary to revise the way in which the Caribbean responded to [[natural disasters]]. The construction industry, in particular, was criticized for not enforcing enough standards to ensure that structures could withstand disasters in the Caribbean.<ref>"Insurance risk management strategies 'need to improve'" Lloyd's List International (November 1, 1990)</ref> In 1991, the PCDPPP ceased to exist, and for about a month, the insurance agencies in the region were looking for a replacement.<ref>"Caribbean alarm at loss of back up risk management from United Nations PCDPPP," Lloyd's List International (May 21, 1991)</ref> The Caribbean region met the deadline of June 1, 1991.<ref>"Caribbean alarm at loss of back up risk management from United Nations PCDPPP," Lloyd's List International (May 21, 1991)</ref> Funding for disaster relief in the Caribbean has been an issue. In September 1991, the [[Caribbean Community]] (CARICOM) was finally able to take the initiative and set up CDERA.<ref>Denise D.P. Thompson "Building Effectiveness in Multi-State Disaster Management Systems: The Case of the Caribbean Disaster and Emergency Response Agency." (PhD diss., Pennsylvania State University, 2010), 26</ref>

The growth of CDERA is said to have been very slow throughout the 1990s.<ref>Leonard James Huggins "Comprehensive Disaster Management and Development: The Role of Geoinformatics and Geo-Collaboration in Linking Mitigation and Disaster Recovery in the Eastern Caribbean." (PhD. Diss., MPPM, University of Pittsburgh, 2007).</ref> In 2003, studies showed that the Caribbean Metrological organization based in [[Trinidad and Tobago]], had developed earlier warning systems in the Caribbean that were saving lives. There was still controversy over whether the people had confidence in this system.<ref>"Caribbean: Disaster-response agency urges increased preparedness for disasters," BBC Monitoring Americas (February 1, 2005): www.cananews.net</ref>

In 2005, CDERA was planning to better coordinate with the tourism industry by preparing a response strategy for natural or [[man-made disasters]]. CDERA was also formulating plans to better train their employees and improve the spread of information. The [[Caribbean Tourism Organization]] (CTO) claimed the current system CDERA was using needed to become more integrated to avoid a "[[Tower of Babel]]" effect occurring.<ref>"Caribbean tourism industry draws up new disaster-response plan," BBC Monitoring Americas (November 7, 2005): www.cananews.net</ref> Also, later that year, CDERA coordinator Jeremy Collymore started putting pressure on the individual countries of the [[Caribbean Union]] to become more self-sustainable in case of an emergency, while aid from [[Japan]] was used to help develop the community's early warning systems and hazard management ability.<ref>"Caribbean: Disaster response agency coordinator views early warning systems," BBC Monitoring Americas (November 12, 2003): www.cananews.net</ref> With the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami|recent tsunamis in Thailand and Somalia]], aid was sought from the [[Pacific Tsunami Warning Center]] to develop earlier tsunami warning systems in the Caribbean. Research was done within the Caribbean, at places such as the [[University of Puerto Rico]] and the [[University of the Virgin Islands]].<ref>"Caribbean seeking to develop early tsunami warning system," Caribbean Today (January 2005)</ref>

In 2006, financial aid from the [[European Commission]] granted CDERA 3.4 million. CDERA's projects are still being funded from outside sources.<ref>"EU approve grant to improve Caribbean disaster preparedness," BBC Monitoring Americas. (September 15, 2006): www.cananews.net</ref> As of 2010, approximately 90% of funding for CDERA's projects comes from international donors.<ref>Denise D.P. Thompson "Building Effectiveness in Multi-State Disaster Management Systems: The Case of the Caribbean Disaster and Emergency Response Agency." (PhD diss., Pennsylvania State University, 2010), 52.</ref> Along with funds being heavily dependent on foreign sources, staffing for CDERA has been a major hurdle. It has been said that some staff members of CDERA lack backgrounds in disaster management, and those in charge are low in the bureaucracy's chain of command.<ref>Denise D.P. Thompson "Building Effectiveness in Multi-State Disaster Management Systems: The Case of the Caribbean Disaster and Emergency Response Agency." (PhD diss., Pennsylvania State University, 2010), 44.</ref>

In 2010, CDERA underwent a name change to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA).<ref>Denise D.P. Thompson "Building Effectiveness in Multi-State Disaster Management Systems: The Case of the Caribbean Disaster and Emergency Response Agency." (PhD diss., Pennsylvania State University, 2010), 44.</ref> They have recently focused on improving results through better connections with policymakers and technical officials.<ref>"Effective Disaster Management addressed at recent CDEMA meeting," BVI News (May 31, 2011): www.bvinews.com</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Caribbean}}
* [[Canadian Hurricane Centre]]
* [[European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites]]
* [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] (NOAA)
* [[Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility Segregated Portfolio Company|Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility Segregated Portfolio Company (CCRIF)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|http://www.cdema.org}}

{{Caribbean Community (CARICOM)|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Disaster preparedness in the Caribbean|.]]
[[Category:Emergency organizations]]
[[Category:Institutions of the Caribbean Community|Disaster]]
[[Category:Non-profit organisations based in Barbados]]
[[Category:Emergency management]]