Over 44,000 people from 30 Members States and 15 of the territories* in the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions participated in the second full scale regional tsunami exercise held on March 20, 2013.

INTRODUCTION

This report, for the period 1 June – 30 November 2012, is the first semiannual report, covering the first six months in the 2012/2013 fiscal and policy year for CCRIF. It is designed to provide an update on progress during this period towards achievement of CCRIF’s Strategic Objectives (see Figure 1) as defined in the CCRIF Strategic Plan 2012/2013 – 2014/2015. In providing this progress update, this report also illustrates how the Facility upholds its customer values.

The report presents:

Government of BVI (GIS), BVI, October 29th, 2012 - The Department of Disaster Management (DDM) in collaboration with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) Coordinating Unit, with financial support from the Enhancing Resilience to Reduce Vulnerability in the Caribbean Region (ERC) Project is hosting a stakeholders meeting to discuss the data needs for the DEWETRA Platform and how it can be used within the Caribbean context.

By David Singh

GENEVA, 15 June 2012 - As the 2012 Atlantic Hurricane Season kicks off, all 16 member governments of the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) have committed for the sixth year in a row to renew their hurricane and earthquake insurance for 2012-2013 and earned themselves a 25% premium rebate.

INTRODUCTION

This report, for the period 1 September – 30 November 2011, is the second quarterly report in the 2011/2012 fiscal and policy year for CCRIF. It is designed to provide an update on progress during this quarter towards achievement of CCRIF’s Strategic Objectives (see Figure 1) as defined in the CCRIF Strategic Plan 2009/2010 – 2011/2012. In providing this progress update, this quarterly report also illustrates how the Facility upholds its customer values.

The report presents:

Natural disasters in the American continent

In the last decade, the American continent suffered from 922 natural disasters, killing more than 247 thousand people, affecting over 82 million others and causing at least US$ 487 billion of economic damages. The Americas were the second most affected continent by natural disasters, after Asia, in terms of disaster occurrence and people killed. However the Americas took the largest share of economic damages during the decade (46% of worldwide damages).

Bahamas, September 1, 2011 (PAHO/WHO)- The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and The Bahamas and Turk and Caicos health authorities are launching an appeal for international assistance to help 220,000 people, that were affected by Hurricane Irene last week.

The goal of this appeal is to reduce the public health impact of Hurricane Irene on the affected population of these islands.

Message: Damage Assessments being conducted in severely impacted Family Islands of Acklins, Mayaguana and Cat Island; Turks and Caicos Islands returns to state of normalcy.

Event Hurricane Irene, initially a Category 2 and then a Category 3 storm, passed over the Bahamas from August 23rd to August 26th 2011. Irene passed over almost the entire chain of islands causing significant damage in some islands. Hurricane Irene also passed over the Turks and Caicos Islands on August 24th 2011 as a Category One hurricane resulting in severe flooding.

Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, August 28, 2011 – The Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) has announced that, while Hurricane Irene resulted in registered losses in six of its member countries (Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, the Bahamas, Haiti, St. Kitts & Nevis and the Turks & Caicos Islands), none of the policies of these countries were triggered. Of these territories, the highest losses were determined for the Bahamas and the Turks & Caicos Islands. None of the other four countries was impacted by more than lower Tropical Storm-force winds (under 50mph).