The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) is pleased to share this report on the current landscape of disaster risk reduction in Trinidad and Tobago. Over the past four years the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (GORTT), through the National Disaster Office, the Office Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) has made significant strides towards building disaster resilience in the country through a number of programmes and initiatives focused on reducing vulnerability.

Having conducted a country risk evaluation and an assessment of the country’s institutional capacities to manage risk specifically due to the prevalent natural hazards, the studies revealed earthquakes will have the greatest impact on this country. The exposed value for Trinidad and Tobago is calculated at USD37,902 million, with an estimated average annual loss due to earthquakes valued at USD7,072 million (GORTT/ODPM/IDB- CIMNE, 2013).

Further, the overall findings of the capacity assessment (GORTT/NICA-ATN/OC-12349-TT, 2013) indicated that the system for delivering CDM/DRM ranks 2.3 out of a possible score of 5 points when benchmarked against the Caribbean CDM results framework. Noting that "achievements have been made but are incomplete, and while improvements are planned, the commitment and capacities are limited." The assessment then identified the following areas as having greatest issue and consequently having the highest priority towards improving the capacities in the disaster risk management system in Trinidad and Tobago:

1.  Making DRM a priority for Parliament and Government Organizations
2.  Education and awareness building directed to our complacent public
3.  Development of an integrated legal framework for DRM

 The following information is an excerpt captured from the DIPECHO Report for more information or to read the entire report, please click here.