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Disaster Management Unit

The Disaster Management Unit falls under the Community Development, Social Services and Decentralization Committee and is responsible for the preparation, mitigation and management of emergencies and disasters within the Municipality of San Juan/Laventille region, in conjunction with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management, and other first responder agencies.

The ultimate purpose of emergency management is to save lives, preserve the environment and protect property and the economy. The Emergency management structure comprises four interdependent risk-based functions: prevention/mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. Mitigation, however, provides a critical foundation for emergency management.

  • Prevention/ Mitigation: the aim of which is the elimination or reduction of risk of disasters in order to protect lives, property and the environment
  • Preparedness: actions taken prior to an emergency to ensure an effective response including, but not limited to, public education, emergency information, training and exercises
  • Response: Actions taken to respond to an emergency or disaster
  • Recovery: Actions taken to recover from an emergency or disaster

Disasters, as they relate to specific actions to the San Juan Laventille Regional Corporation, are firstly a “local” phenomena. Communities are on the frontline of both the immediate impact of a disaster and the initial, emergency response, which experience has shown is crucial for saving lives. Thus, the goal of disaster management is to save lives, reduce human suffering, minimize physical and environmental damage and reduce future vulnerability.

Decreasing the impact of disasters is a major reflection on any country’s development. It is therefore imperative that we address “disaster risk reduction” as a function to be first taught in homes, in our schools, places of work and throughout our communities. Raising community awareness of hazards and disaster risks also promotes the understanding of hazards reducing a community’s vulnerabilities.

Roles of Disaster Management Unit:

  • Update Emergency Operations Plan (Annually)
  • Supervise and coordinate activities within the Municipal Corporation’s Emergency Operations Center relating to any hazard or emergency
  • Advise the Chief Executive Officers and the Chief Disaster Management Coordinator on activities related to all phases of disaster management
  • Participation in the research, coordination and evaluation of policies, strategies, programmes and plans relevant to disaster management within the Ministry of Local Government in collaboration with the Chief Executive Officers, Assistant Disaster Management Coordinators and other stakeholder organizations.
  • Compile, analyze and evaluate data for decision making relevant to Disaster Management.
  • Work collaboratively with organizations such as the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management, Fire Services, Police Services, Defense Force, Emergency Health Services, Social Services and National Family Services to review and design plans for managing emergencies in Communities within the region
  • Monitoring of the Weather Station
  • Coordinate Initial Damage Assessment in terms of identifying and obtaining critical emergency / disaster relief requirements
  • Coordinate surveys in disaster areas to determine damage to property for repair or reconstruction requirements
  • Development and maintenance of a database on information relating to all phases of disaster management
  • Respond to complaints received regarding trees that pose a threat to resident’s property and the community
  • GIS Hazard Mapping

The Disaster Management Unit can be contacted by telephone at

800 SJRC (Toll Free)

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