AN online atlas of disaster risk for the Caribbean, as well as online risk maps, will soon be available to help the islands of the region in their efforts to stymie the fallout from natural disasters.

The Caribbean Risk Atlas Project to produce these tools was launched on October 14 at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, by the Disaster Risk Reduction Centre of the university and the World Bank, implementers and funders of the project respectively.

The World Bank has provided US$510,000 for the 24-month project aimed at producing the atlas and maps that will inform decision-making based on analysis and data that allow for calculation and the management of risk.

Praising the initiative, vice-chancellor of the UWI, Professor E Nigel Harris said that he was elated that the region would have the strengthened capacity to manage risk effectively. He noted that it was shortly after taking up his position at the UWI that he witnessed the devastation brought by Hurricane Ivan in Jamaica and Grenada.

The UWI, Harris said, responded by sending a cadre of specialists, including psychologists, to Grenada and has since shared its considerable knowledge of the natural environment, planning and research capabilities with several government and non-governmental agencies Caribbean-wide.

The Disaster Risk Reduction Centre at UWI, he said, is a practical response to Caribbean priorities and puts the tremendous human capital resources of the UWI in the hands of all who need it.

The Caribbean Risk Atlas will make available online, spatial data on risk for hurricanes and earthquakes for the region along with high-resolution risk maps for selected territories showing risk from hurricanes, earthquakes and floods.

Persons employed in the field who will use the information in the atlases will be trained to analyse risk and integrate disaster risk planning into policy development and decision-making.

The Caribbean Risk Atlas project comes against the background of the increased incidence of disasters which have caused tremendous damage in the region over the past decade. They include Hurricane Gilbert which resulted in over US$1.1 billion in damage to Jamaica in 1988; and Hurricane Hugo which in 1990 caused US$3.6 billion in damage to Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat and the British Virgin Islands. Over 6,000 people died in the Caribbean in 2004 due to heavy rainfall and tropical cyclones Ivan, Jeanne and Frances which caused economic losses of over US$5.593 billion.

The online Atlas of Risk Disaster for the Caribbean and online risk maps will provide policymakers, emergency managers, physical planners, developers and the public with information critical to decisions such as crop-planting schedules, the location of towns and communities, building codes and appropriate construction and design for roads.