Prepared for Hurricane Season

Based in the island nation of the Dominican Republic, Holly Inurreta is Catholic Relief Services' regional technical advisor for emergencies in Latin America and the Caribbean—the second most disaster-prone region in the world. Two months into the Atlantic hurricane season, and with four months to go, she spoke with us about how CRS is working to help communities prepare for disasters.

Holly Inuretta, CRS' regional technical advisor for emergencies in Latin America and the Caribbean. Photo by Jim Stipe/CRS

Catholic Relief Services:

How is CRS positioned to respond?

Holly Inuretta:

We're restocking relief supplies—plastic sheeting, water containers, mosquito nets, kitchen kits (like camping kits only more elaborate) and other supplies—in our warehouses in Grenada, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. We'll have enough to meet the basic shelter and water needs of 2,500 to 3,000 families.

We started pre-positioning supplies in places like Jamaica in 2005, after our experience the year before in Grenada with Hurricane Ivan, which damaged 80 percent of the homes on the island. In that case, the airport in Grenada was closed for almost 10 days, limiting the aid the Church could provide during the first days to what was available locally. From Grenada, we learned the Caribbean islands can easily get cut off, much more so than other countries in Central America, which are accessible by land, closer to other markets and therefore not nearly as vulnerable. And countries like Haiti and Guatemala, where CRS has pretty large food aid programs, can quickly get permission to mobilize food during emergencies. So now we're focusing the pre-positioning of supplies on the Caribbean.

CRS:

Last year, the decision was made to send you to Jamaica early so you could monitor Hurricane Dean from the island's capital, Kingston. Can you describe what the experience was like?

Inuretta:

I flew into Kingston, Jamaica, two days before Dean hit the island. It was the first time I arrived before the emergency and the first time I sat through a hurricane, so I was pretty nervous. Early predictions were that Dean would pass right over Kingston as a Category 4.

I spent the day before the hurricane meeting with CRS partners from the Archdiocese of Kingston, talking by phone with the other two dioceses, and purchasing last-minute supplies for the hotel room. Although I had seen it before, I was still surprised at how many people were waiting until the very last minute to get prepared.

CRS:

Can you describe how an emergency response is typically carried out?

Inuretta:

Whenever possible we start the response before the emergency happens. We work with CRS partners and communities to identify vulnerable areas and potential risks. Then we make plans on what to do if an emergency hits, for example by looking at how to secure places where people should go to take shelter or by having basic items on hand in a warehouse to distribute if an emergency occurs.

CRS:

What happens once the emergency hits?

Inuretta:

A lot of things happen almost simultaneously.

The most important first step is working with local partners to assess the damages and identify the communities most affected—their needs.

The next step is to get the word out about what has happened and what the needs are. We do this by contacting CRS headquarters in Baltimore, communicating with media, and coordinating with local governments and other organizations on the ground that are also responding.

Based on the information we gather, we then develop a more detailed plan for the response, including activities to help people get back into their homes and start working again. What we do in the longer term depends on the financial resources available, the extent of the damage and the capacity of the local communities and governments to cover their own needs.

CRS:

How does CRS work with local partners in anticipation of the hurricane season?

Inuretta:

Well, every year around this time we meet with local Caritas partners to review and update the emergency plans already in place. Partly, that involves meeting with local dioceses to go over what did and didn't work last year, and fine-tuning the emergency plan. If possible, we also practice the plans by creating an emergency scenario and practicing the roles we've been assigned.

CRS:

CRS is increasing its focus on helping communities cope with disasters both before and after they take place. Can you describe some of this work?

Inuretta:

We look at what types of events they're more vulnerable to: for example, a flood or a landslide. We look at where people have built their homes: Are they close to the river or on a mountain slope? And we talk about the things they might be doing to place themselves at greater risk, like cutting down trees or throwing garbage in drainage ditches.

More than 1,200 evacuees young and old crowded the Villahermosa Cathedral to escape flooding in Tabasco, Mexico, in 2007. Photo by Lourdes Toussaint/CRS

For example, in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, CRS is helping communities affected last year by Hurricane Noel. These groups plan out everything from evacuation routes and shelter locations to flood retention walls and deep, sealed wells to protect the water supply. In one community, the local mayor drives around warning people about the impending storm on a bullhorn. In El Salvador, we worked with communities to build coops on stilts so that chickens and other valuable livestock are safeguarded during floods. And right now, in the Dominican Republic, in areas devastated by flooding from Tropical Storm Noel, we're working with communities to build sturdier houses so that they're more resistant.

The way I see it, every emergency is an opportunity to raise awareness. But it is often an uphill battle.

CRS:

Why is that?

Inuretta:

The thing is that in most of these communities there is no fireman coming around the corner. People don't learn to stop, drop and roll like we do in the United States. So even though many of the people we serve are battered time and time again, for example by hurricanes, they don't always know what they need to do to protect themselves and they don't have the resources.

To a great extent, the devastation caused during disasters is made exponentially worse by poverty in that poverty is associated with degradation of natural resources, poorly constructed homes located in high-risk areas, and limited access to resources and opportunities. The poor are the most adversely affected by natural disasters.

CRS:

In the face of recent disasters, should governments and donors focus more on emergency preparedness? What are some of the ways that they can go about this?

Inuretta:

The first responders in any disaster are the residents and local organizations. The actions they take in the first hours after a disaster can significantly reduce loss of life and injuries. In addition, actions and attitudes affect communities' vulnerability in emergencies. For example, basic education on hygiene and water can prevent the outbreak of waterborne disease after an emergency.

CRS:

How did you get into the field of emergency response? How has it changed you if at all?

Inuretta:

The short answer is Hurricane Ivan in Grenada and then the South Asia tsunami. I was called upon by CRS in both cases to provide support in the agency's response.

I think working in emergencies has deepened my respect for the power of nature and its potential destructive force, but also my faith and appreciation for the amazing solidarity and generosity of people throughout the world: the wonderful courage and resilience of the human spirit. Again and again, in the midst of destruction and tragedy, I have seen such amazing generosity and coming together of people to help each other. And also the experience of coming back months later to see homes rebuilt and livelihoods restored. My work is truly rewarding: I am constantly learning and growing from my contact with the communities, CRS partners, CRS staff and their loving dedication to those in need.