Engineering, Construction & Management Consulting Ltd.

Given the predictions for an above normal hurricane season in the Atlantic Basin, engineers need to be more aware of the importance of damage assessment as it is critical in the eventual recovery of Saint Lucia.

Undertaking a damage assessment, irrespective of the type of disaster is a skill imparted to many Saint Lucians who have been trained by the Saint Lucia National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO).  The practice of assessing damage after a disaster normally calls for:

(i)            an Initial Damage Assessment and needs assessment (IDA);

(ii)           a Detailed or Sectoral Damage Assessment; and

(iii)         Reconstruction and Recovery plans.

The IDA is perhaps the most important of the three, as it provides information to donor agencies on the immediate needs and the anticipated extent of funding that will be required for the Reconstruction and Recovery stage. Of the three assessment reports, the IDA report is the only one which must be produced by NEMO.

Engineers, given their training and involvement in their respective fields should and are encouraged to play a meaningful role in conducting IDAs.  This can be best achieved through their full participation as members of NEMO’s damage assessment teams, particularly the National Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis team. Saint Lucian Engineers stand up and get involved!