5 Ways USAID is Preparing for Hurricane Season
All it takes is one. That is the phrase I’ve been echoing as I’ve traveled throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, briefing ambassadors and U.S. embassy staff about this year’s Atlantic hurricane season. Though this year’s season is forecasted to be active, just one bad storm is all it takes to wreak havoc, kill and injure thousands, and inflict billions of dollars in damage.
I’ve seen the devastating impacts of hurricanes first-hand. Most recently, I led USAID’s responses to Hurricanes Iota and Eta in 2020 and Hurricane Dorian in 2019.
While Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, at USAID, we work year-round to help our neighbors in the region, providing them with the tools and skills needed to be ready for and more resilient to natural disasters.
Here are five ways we do this:
1. Scientific Advanced Warning Systems
Hurricanes are known for their lashing winds, but in fact, flash floods are the most fatal aspects of hurricanes and the number one weather-related killer. When flash floods occur, excess water caused by heavy and rapid rainfall cannot be absorbed into the earth quickly — and this fast-moving water can be extremely powerful, reaching heights of more than 30 feet. It takes only six inches of flash flood water to knock a person to the ground and only 18 inches to float a moving car.
Even though the onset of flash floods is almost immediate, it is possible to give up to a six hour window of advanced notice — just enough time to save lives. USAID works closely with meteorological experts in hurricane-prone countries, training them on the Flash Flood Guidance System, a scientific method of accumulating rainfall data and analyzing the rate at which the ground absorbs it. This system saves lives, giving disaster-prone countries crucial hours before a flash flood hits to implement emergency plans and move as many people as possible out of harm’s way.
We also know from experience that storm surges — or rising coastal waters created by hurricanes — pose a great danger. Weather forecasts are critical for providing early warnings about bad weather; however, many countries don’t have access to this equipment. That is why USAID teamed up with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and other partners to help countries build their own automated weather stations using 3D-printers and low cost sensors.
This project, which is currently being implemented in Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, the Cayman Islands, and Curacao, allows meteorological agencies in other countries to take ownership in building and maintaining their monitoring networks — at a much lower cost — while enhancing their ability to forecast and provide early warnings to communities impacted by bad weather and climate hazards.
2. Emergency Stockpiles in the Region
USAID has its own strategically located warehouse in Miami and also helps stock partner warehouses across the Caribbean with essential relief items, such as emergency shelter materials, blankets, heavy-duty plastic sheeting, hygiene supplies, water treatment systems, and kitchen sets. We have the ability to charter aircraft to deliver these life-saving items quickly to those hit hard by hurricanes across Latin America and the Caribbean.
When Hurricanes Eta and Iota hit Central America in November 2020, we were able to tap these stocks to quickly deliver enough heavy-duty plastic sheeting to provide emergency shelter assistance to 17,000 people.
3. Disaster Experts at the Ready
The most vital resource USAID has is its people. USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance has a regional office in San José, Costa Rica where disaster response experts are ready to respond, when needed.
We also maintain a network of more than 45 disaster risk management specialists dispersed throughout the region who are ready to jump into action when a hurricane makes landfall. When we know a storm is coming, we often pre-position staff to be on the ground to assess immediate needs. In addition, we have more than 400 on-call disaster consultants available for short-term activation. These consultants live in the region, so they know the culture and local officials, and can quickly report the conditions on the ground to help USAID prioritize humanitarian needs.
4. Air Transportation
When responding to disasters, speed matters. The primary way USAID transports lifesaving relief supplies around the world is through commercial airplanes. Because of this, USAID maintains the capability to charter aircraft to transport staff and supplies to disaster-affected areas, thanks to agreements we maintain with commercial air service companies throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.
If commercial air service is unavailable, USAID can request transportation and logistics support from the U.S. military. For example, after Hurricane Dorian devastated parts of the Bahamas in 2019, USAID and the U.S. military worked together to transport more than 147 metric tons of lifesaving humanitarian commodities and 445 humanitarian response staff to the Bahamas.
5. Donating Smart
When hurricanes happen, generous people and organizations step up with offers to help, but not all donations are equal. That is why we work closely with USAID’s Center for International Disaster Information to educate the public on the best and most effective ways to donate and help others during a hurricane.
Undoubtedly the fastest and most cost-effective way to do this is through monetary donations to organizations that are established and operating in the affected countries. That is because these donations enable relief workers to respond to the evolving needs of those affected by hurricanes, from immediate life-saving assistance to eventually helping people rebuild their communities.
While giving material goods, like clothing, canned food, and bottled water might seem helpful, they often cause more problems. Many of these items actually remain in the United States because of the high cost required to transport the donated goods to a foreign country. Other items are turned away at their destination because they are not tied to a response organization responsible for handling and delivering them, or they are deemed inappropriate according to the laws and customs of the region.
Our work in the Caribbean begins long before the first hurricane of the season. Our teams work year-round to prepare. While we can’t stop hurricanes from happening, we are always ready to respond.
Tim Callaghan is the Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean for USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance. He has been with USAID since 2001.
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