The National Office of Disaster Services (NODS) announces the commencement of a Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) audit.
This essential, periodic assessment involves collaboration with national stakeholders to evaluate the nation’s readiness in disaster risk management across four critical pillars: preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation.
According to NODS Director Sherrod James, this undertaking is a vital step in refining the country’s multi-year work program, allowing NODS to objectively assess the state’s current standing and identify necessary initiatives and resources for enhancing disaster management strategies.
To lead this initiative, NODS has partnered with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA). CDEMA, in collaboration with the University of the West Indies (UWI), has engaged a local consultant to support the effort. This key collaboration is instrumental in developing a specialized audit tool, a structured series of questions directed at various stakeholders.
The aggregated responses will provide a comprehensive, objective snapshot of the country’s current disaster management capabilities.
James says all compiled information will be centralized into a standardized database, which will serve as a foundational reference point for evaluating the country’s progress over the past several years.
This systematic assessment is designed to identify areas for operational improvement, highlight persistent challenges, and address emerging issues critical to a forward-looking strategy.
Ultimately, the audit findings will be used to guide NODS in substantively upgrading its existing work program, thereby ensuring a more robust and resilient national response to future disaster management challenges. – the End-
