The National Disaster Management Plan of the Virgin Islands is a national Plan with a sectoral approach. The main goal of the Plan is to provide a framework that promotes centralized coordination, control and effective collaboration in preparing for and providing immediate responses to various hazards caused by disasters. In order to increase the resilience of the Virgin Islands to disasters and to provide immediate response in case of disasters Establish guidelines to assist the Government and people of the VI in preparing for disasters the Pan presents mechanisms for warning the public during critical stages of an emergency, promotes the involvement and empowerment of organizations in emergency response, outlines procedures to be followed during emergencies, clarifies roles and responsibilities of diverse stakeholders, establish procedures for the deployment of material, manpower and equipment to the site of emergency, and identifies the mechanisms for obtaining external assistance if required in an emergency or disaster. Regarding disaster preparedness, the Plan provides for a) undertaking regular training programs for emergency response agencies; b) ensuring availability of capable personnel and appropriate equipment when required, in emergencies and disasters; c) regular monitoring and evaluating the level of disaster preparedness and readiness; good maintenance of the indispensable equipment; d) full scale simulation exercises; e) ensuring public information and awareness raising; e) making sure that a minimal level of critical supplies are stored at designated Emergency Shelters at National Warehouses by Government agencies; f) enabling good maintenance of national level warning and alert systems for sudden impact disasters; and g) building emergency shelters. The Plan also sets forth the establishment of NEOC National Emergency Operations Centre and the importance of reporting, documentation, tracing and evacuation planning. The evacuation planning should emphasize on: hazards and threats likely to lead to evacuation, means of evacuation, crowd control, security of evacuated areas, emergency accommodation, feeding and welfare arrangements and a sound policy on returning residents to evacuated areas. The Plan further sets out main actions to be taken during emergency operations such as surveillance, defining alert and response levels according to the nature of the hazard and the perceived level of risk. Other actions to be taken are warning and immediate plan activation as well as activation of National Emergency Operations Centre. The Plan lastly sets forth the different stakeholders responsible of disaster management and the actions to be taken by each authority and the private sector at time of disaster and the legislative documents regarding disaster and emergency situations. The main framework legislation regarding disaster management is the Virgin Islands Constitution Order, Emergency Powers (Disaster) Act and the Disaster Management Act. National Disaster Management Council (NDMC) and the Department of Disaster Management (DDM) are the principle authorities responsible from the implementation, of this Plan. NDMC and the DDM implements this Plan with the cooperation of Zonal Committees and Disaster Auxiliary Corps. Other institutions related to the disaster management organization are Ad Hoc Committees, Liaison Officers and NGO’s.
جزر فيرجين البريطانية (المملكة المتحدة) · 2008-01-01