Disaster Preparedness and Response

The recent catastrophic earthquakes in Haiti and Chile have been terrible reminders of the devastation that natural disasters can unleash. Unfortunately, many areas of the Western Hemisphere are particularly prone to a variety of disasters, including earthquakes, hurricanes, landslides and floods.

Several of the region's major ports are in these disaster-prone areas. As we have seen in Port-au-Prince, the incapacitation of a port in the event of a major disaster not only hampers commerce, but can potentially complicate disaster response and humanitarian relief efforts.

Given the risks, all ports should do what they can to prepare for potential disaster scenarios. Disaster preparedness and response planning will be a topic for discussion at the TAG's meeting in Panama in March. In the meantime, please take a look at some resources below.

Does your port employ a risk assessment tool? Does it have a disaster plan already in place? Please visit the forum to tell us about what your port is doing to better prepare itself for natural disasters or to pose questions to the group.

** American Association of Port Authorities: The AAPA hosted an Emergency Preparation and Response Seminar in Portland, Oregon in 2006. The event provided specific training for port management, attorneys, engineers, operations personnel, communications staff and risk managers. Access speakers' presentations here.

The AAPA's site also provides access for its members to their Emergency Preparedness and Continuity of Operations Planning Manual. This is a valuable resource full of extensive, in-depth information including best practices learned from real disaster events.

** The University of Wisconsin Disaster Management Center's website hosts online disaster management courses in English and Spanish.