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It can be argued that when CDERA (now CDEMA) was formed 27 years ago, terms such as climate change and global warming were mere abstractions to the average person in the Caribbean. Indeed, given that the majority of the Caribbean Islands and CDEMA’s 18 participating states are geographically located within the hurricane belt, the focus at the local and regional level was mainly, and somewhat narrowly, on the direct impact and effects of tropical weather systems in the Atlantic Hurricane Season between the months of June and November.

On September 9, 2018 the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) is proud to be commemorating our 27th year of providing Disaster Response Services and support to the region in the areas of Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management including Disaster Response.  CDEMA, formerly the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA) was created in 1991 as a specialized regional institution with a mandate to advance and deepen functional cooperation across

Bridgetown, Barbados September 11th, 2018 – The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) and humanitarian mapping charity MapAction yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise their new joint working relationship. MapAction will work alongside CDEMA teams and support National Disaster Management Agencies within the Caribbean region as needed.

The CDEMA Coordinating Unit expresses profound gratitude to all donors who contributed to the relief and recovery efforts in the impacted CDEMA Participating States as a result of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, September 2017.  CARICOM Governments and Governments outside the region, international development partners, regional institutions, private sector entities/foundations, citizens and residents from across the region as well as in the Caribbean Diaspora and other donors from all over the world, responded with an outpouring of support for our impacted States, through donation of relief supplies as well as financial support.

According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, Florida, as of 5:00 PM (AST) on September 10, 2018, the center of Hurricane Isaac was located near latitude 14.4 North, longitude 45.0 West. On the forecast track, Isaac is expected to move across the Lesser Antilles and into the eastern Caribbean Sea on Thursday. Maximum sustained winds remain near 75 mph (120 km/h) with higher gusts.

Disaster recovery is an intensive process which requires large inputs of labour, time and financial resources. The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) places emphasis on mobilising finances for recovery through an initiative called the “CDEMA Legacy Project”. The aim of the Legacy Project is to improve the physical living conditions of the most vulnerable persons in the most adversely affected areas of the impacted States.

Bridgetown, Barbados July 16th, 2018 – The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency Coordinating Unit (CDEMA CU) and the Regional Security System Headquarters (RSS HQ) convened a second training workshop of the CARICOM Disaster Relief Unit (CDRU) to serve the region during the period August 2018 to July 2019. The training workshop is taking place from July 16 – 20, 2018, at the Frank Walcott Labour College in St. Phillip, Barbados with funding support from the United States Government through the US Southern Command.

St. John, Antigua, June 28th, 2018 (NODS) - The two-million US dollar China-funded roofing restoration project on Barbuda has met and exceeded the target of 250 homes, just days before the June 30 deadline.

The initiative, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with the government of Antigua and Barbuda, focused on repairing the roofs of houses that received minor and major damage, or those categorized between levels one and three.

  1. CDEMA’s Participation in the Sixth Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction 2018, Cartagena, Columbia
  2. Risk management agencies in the Caribbean created a common strategy for strengthening resilience in the Americas
  3. Gaps Identified as Early Warning Systems Work Advances
  4. CDEMA’s Legacy Project successfully implemented in Antigua and Barbuda post Hurricane Irma
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