Cuban Civil Defense: Cyclone Preparedness Measures EWS workshop Nuku alofa November 2009 Presentation by UNDP Pacific Centre 1 Civil Defense According to Law 75 on National Defense, Civil Defense is: A national system of state measures, the purpose of which is to protect the population, property, infrastructure and the national economy. 2 1
Civil Defense President Of the Council of State 1st Vice President OACE Provinces of the Council of State Businesses Social institutions Minister of Armed Forces Dependencies Municipalities Dependencias General Staff DC Dependencias Dependencias Defense Zone 3 Decree-Law 75 on Civil Defense System of Measures The functions and place of state agencies, businesses and social institutions in relation to complying with Civil Defense measures, The organization and implementation of Civil Defense measures to protect the population and the economy, The establishment of phases, Financing of Civil Defense plans and measures. 4 2
Met Office WIRE COMMUNICATIONS TO THE RISK MANAGEMENT CENTRES AS PART OF THE EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS Civil Defense Server PABX Server CGR Modems CGR CGR CGR CGR CGR Multi-hazard risk assessment program National Civil Defense Ministry of Science Technology and Environment (CITMA) Environmental Agency Multi-hazard Risk Assessment Group Provincial Government Municipal Government People s Councils Manageme nt Centers for Risk Reduction Territorial CITMA Universities Institutions First Phase: Identification of hazard scenarios (susceptibility) Second Phase: Calculation of Hazard Third Phase: Calculation of Vulnerability Fourth Phase: Estimation of Risk 1.1 Local disaster database 1.2 Building spatial database 1.3 Pre-processing of thematic maps 1.4 Susceptibility 2.1 Frequency Analysis 2.2 Spatial and temporal probabilities 2.3 Hazard assessment 3.1 Analysis of socio-economic conditions 3.2 Analysis of vulnerability indicators 3.3 Vulnerability 4.1 Risk estimation 4.2 Risk mapping and visualization 4.3 Risk evaluation 3
General Staff of Cuban Civil Defense National authority Emergency measures International conventions Cooperation and humanitarian aid programs. Organizes, coordinates and monitors State agenices Businesses Social institutions 7 EARLY WARNING SYSTEM FOR TROPICAL CYCLONES BERMUDAS Zone of reinforced monitoring ISLAS BAHAMAS GUATEMALA EL SALVADOR CUBA ISLAS CAIMÁN Zone of maximum attention ISLAS VÍRGENES (GRAN BRETA ANTIGUA Y BARBU DOMINICA BARBA ARUBA GRANADA TRINIDAD Y TOB COSTA RICA COLOMBIA VENEZUELA GUYA BRAS 4
Municipio Habana Vieja Seawater flooding in Plaza de la Revolución municipality 5
Dr. Jose Rubiera, Head of Forecasting 6
PHASES ESTABLISHED FOR PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION PHASE 96 hours before ALERT PHASE 24 hours before, evacuation ALARM PHASE landfall imminent RECOVERY PHASE after cyclone WILL DEPEND ON THE TYPE OF HAZARD AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS 13 Mass evacuations for tropical cyclones. 14 7
CYCLONE Date Category on the Saffir- Simpson scale Characteristics Michelle 04 Nov 2001 4 Max wind speed of 215 km/h. Gusts up to 250 km/h. Isidore 20 Sept 2002 2 Max wind speed of 165 km/h. Gusts up to 250 km/h Accumulated rainfall of 364 mm. Lili 01 Oct 2002 2 Max wind speed of134 km/h. Gusts up to 164 km/h Accumulated rainfall of 111 mm. Charley 13 Aug 2004 2-3 Max wind speed of 220 km/h. Gusts up to 280 km/h. IVÁN 13 Sept 2004 4-5 Max wind speed of 250 km/h. Gusts up to 310 km/h. Provinces Matanzas, Cienfuegos, Villa Clara and Santi Spiritus Pinar del Río, Isla de la Juventud Pinar del Río, Isla de la Juventud Provincia La Habana/ Ciudad Habana and Pinar del Río. Pinar del Río, Isla de la Juventud, Provincia de La Habana 15 Hurricane Michelle (4 November2001) Category 4, the first high intensity hurricane to hit Cuba in this century The previous hurricane of this magnitude was Hurricane Fox in October 1952. 16 8
Hurricane Michelle Evacuation of the population areas at risk. 564,031 residents Of these 166,339 sent to shelters 397,903 were sent to the houses of relatives or neighbours Evacuation of students at boarding schools. 219,206 sent home 522 sent to shelters 17 Hurricane Isidore (20 September 2002) Struck Cuba only 10 months after Hurricane Michelle. 18 9
Hurricane Isidore Evacuation of the population in at risk areas. 223,842 inhabitants Of these 20,981 sent to shelters, the rest sent to houses of family and neighbors Evacuation of boarding school students. 112,951 sent home. 19 Hurricane Lili (1 October 2002) Arrived in Cuba just 11 days after Hurricane Isidore 20 10
Two hurricanes in 11 days 21 Hurricane Lili Evacuation of the population in at risk areas 385,323 inhabitants Of the 56, 204 sent to shelters, the rest sent to the houses of family and neighbors. Evacuation of boarding school students. 163,498 sent home. 22 11
Hurricane Charley 13 August 2004 Evacuation of the population in at risk areas. 221,228 inhabitants Of the 35,749 sent to shelters, the rest sent to the houses of family and neighbours. Evacuation of students. 1175 sent home. Evacuation of tourists. 1348 tourists (Cayo Largo del Sur). 23 Hurricane Ivan Activation of Command Posts). 14 in provinces 169 in municipalities Movilization of personnel and transport vehicles. 215,122 personnel 13,016 vehicles and equipment. 24 12
Hurricane Ivan Evacuation of the population in at risk areas 1,898,396 inhabitants. Of these 416,123 sent to shelters. Evacuation of students. 359,644 sent home Evacuation of tourists. 8026 tourists. Total: 2,266,066 25 EVACUATION SUMMARY HURRICANES DATE # EVACUATED STUDENTS TOTAL 1-MICHELLE 4 NOV 2001 564 031 219 206 783 237 2-ISIDORE 20 SEP 2002 223 842 11 295 235 137 3-LILI 1 OCT 2002 385 323 163 498 548 821 4-CHARLY 13 AUG2004 221 228 1175 222 403 5-IVÁN 13 SEPT 2004 1 898 396 3 292 818 359 644 754 718 2 258 040 4 047 638 13
Gustav, Hanna and Ike in 02/Sept Total evacuation: 3,179,846 people Casualties: 7 people Total estimated damage: ~10,000 million USD Total housing damage: 444,000 houses Total collapsed houses: 63,249 houses Temporally homeless: ~200,000 people 14
Meteoro National simulation exercise in all workplaces, schools and neighborhoods Annually, just before start of cyclone season Participation mandatory 15