Ahead of the Storm: an Innovative Disaster Recovery Planning Tool Is Now Available in the Caribbean

When Hurricane Irma slammed into Antigua and Barbuda in 2017, killing at least 89 people, it was one of the deadliest natural disasters ever to hit the Caribbean.

Now, a new tool from the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency aims to help countries in the region get back on their feet more quickly.

The so-called Sectoral Recovery Capacity Assessmentwhich takes into account governance, competencies, and resources, as well as a traffic light systemwas developed with support from the Canada Caribbean Resilience Facility, per a CDEMA press release.

It's already been used in six countries, including Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, and Saint Lucia, where it's been applied to tourism, agriculture, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, where it's been used for the first time in the agriculture and food sectors.

"The methodology is truly invaluable to the sectoral level, pinpointing gaps in recovery planning, identifying opportunities for interventions, and actionable recovery strategies before disasters strike," says Lt.

Col.

Kester Craig, the deputy external director of CDEMA.

The report notes that disasters are expected to become more frequent and intense due to climate change, and countries in the region need to be better prepared.

"To maximize efficiency, recovery needs to be planned

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