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Barbados

Barbados: National Disaster Preparedness Baseline Assessment - A data-driven tool for assessing risk and building lasting resilience

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) completed the Barbados National Disaster Preparedness Baseline Assessment (NDPBA) in partnership with the Department of Emergency Management (DEM) and the support of in-country stakeholders. The NDPBA examines each country’s unique hazard profile, cultural characteristics, geographical and geopolitical context, historical events, and other factors that could impact, both positively and negatively, a country’s ability to manage disasters. Recommendations, at strategic and tactical levels, are developed based on the findings of the assessment and are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

The Assessment consists of two components: the Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (RVA) and the Disaster Management Analysis (DMA). The RVA looks at the multi-hazard exposure, social-economic vulnerabilities, island capacities and internal and external logistics capacities. The DMA takes a qualitative approach to assess six thematic areas -- Enabling Environment; Institutional Arrangements; Disaster Governance Mechanisms; Capabilities and Resources; Capacity Development; and Communication and Information Management. The DMA results are used to contextualize the results of the RVA, providing a comprehensive understanding of the current Disaster Management landscape. In coordination with DEM, PDC leverages the assessment findings to build recommendations and a Disaster Risk Reduction 5-Year Action Plan that allows for better targeted use of limited resources and identification of additional funding opportunities.

The RVA results for Barbados showed significant exposure due to a variety of hazards including hurricane winds, earthquakes, and ashfall from nearby La Soufriere volcano. The detailed hazard exposure analysis reveals that critical infrastructure and densely populated urban areas are particularly susceptible, highlighting the need for risk reduction activities. Additionally, socioeconomic vulnerabilities related to housing, health, and economic constraints were identified. Limited logistics capacities have the potential to exacerbate the impacts of future disasters. Nonetheless, Barbados has demonstrated resilience through well-established disaster governance mechanisms and proactive environmental policies that contribute to the island’s overall disaster preparedness.

The DMA for Barbados shows significant strengths in Institutional Arrangements and a robust Enabling Environment of policies and legislation. The 2023 Comprehensive Disaster Management Policy complements the nation’s proactive approach to integrating disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, and sustainable development goals. While these strengths show progress in overall disaster resilience in Barbados, the DMA further identifies critical needs in financial support, information management systems, and expanding the capacity and scope of training programs. Strengthening these areas will fortify Barbados’ resilience to the predicted impacts of climate change and existing hazards and improve the effectiveness of response and recovery operations.

Barbados faces an increased risk from climate change, and with that a need to establish a national climate and disaster risk financing strategy. Implementing the recommendations shared in this report will significantly advance Barbados’ preparedness and disaster management capabilities.

The NDPBA was funded by the United States Government through the US Southern Command and was conducted in coordination with the U.S. Embassy in Barbados. Although DEM was PDC’s in-country partner during this project, the Center also developed relationships with multiple government and non-governmental agencies in Barbados that supported the data gathering and vetting process. A complete list of PDC’s valued partners in the NDPBA effort is included in this report.

To access findings, recommendations, and data developed for this analysis, please visit PDC’s all-hazard early warning and decision support application for disaster managers and humanitarian assistance practitioners, DisasterAWARE Pro® (https://disasteraware.pdc.org/).