Message from the Director - September 2007
In every response, OFDA strives to promote local and national self-sufficiency in disaster preparedness and management. Whenever possible, OFDA builds upon and strengthens the capacity of established national and regional disaster management institutions, many of which have the ability to meet most emergency needs. These efforts have found great success in the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region. In FY 2007 alone, OFDA provided more than $6 million to support disaster preparedness and mitigation programs that build the local capacity of disaster response agencies in the LAC region.
Following Hurricane Beta, which struck in October 2005, communities along Nicaragua’s Atlantic coast were identified as vulnerable and difficult to access, due to their remote locations. From 2005 to 2007, OFDA worked with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and regional agencies to develop more effective local and regional response plans, ensure early warning and evacuation systems, and improve the pre-positioning of relief supplies in the region. In the months prior to the 2007 hurricane season, OFDA trained Nicaraguan relief organizations and government agencies in damage assessment methodology and skills to rapidly assess humanitarian needs of affected populations. All of this work paid off in 2007, when Hurricane Felix hit the same coastal areas on September 4.
Before Hurricane Felix made landfall, OFDA deployed a team to Nicaragua to monitor the storm’s path and coordinate emergency response activities. OFDA’s 10-person team, including five regional consultants, was busy coordinating emergency responses and assessing damage information in Managua and the most-affected region of Puerto Cabezas, including isolated communities in surrounding rural areas. Since the regional staff had worked closely with the organizations and authorities in the affected regions to prepare for hurricanes, well-established relationships and a shared vision of how to respond facilitated a coordinated and timely response.
In addition to Nicaragua, OFDA has to date responded to the effects of the 2007 season’s two major storms in six other countries. In total, OFDA has provided nearly $2.4 million to support hurricane relief efforts in seven countries and deployed approximately 40 staff to assist with the emergency response.
The latest hurricane response is just one example of the value of preparing for natural disasters. In 2007, OFDA supported other preparation and mitigation activities in 12 countries in the LAC region, laying the foundation and building local capacity to respond when the time comes. Disaster preparation and mitigation activities are cost-effective and enable relief agencies to save more lives and assist even the most difficult to reach communities.
Sincerely,
Ky Luu
Director
Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance
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