Natural Hazard Risk Reduction: Making St. Lucia Safe in an Era of Increased Hurricanes and Associated Events

Abstract

This paper seeks to answer the question, “how to make islands safer using natural hazard risk reduction measures.” It uses St. Lucia as a case study. Among the key findings of the paper is that physical risk reduction measures are difficult to implement or enforce despite their enactment. Furthermore, structural measures are costly to build and maintain. Another finding is that although a hazard mitigation plan is comprehensive, its usefulness is limited if it does not monitor, evaluate, and make provision for updating the plan and its policies. Additionally, hazard maps give inadequate guidance in selecting safe locations if the data are poor. Socioeconomic measures are costly in monetary and administrative terms; therefore, legislation encourages the population to locate in safe areas. A key finding is that supplementary measures for risk reduction are useful. The paper concludes that an array of risk reduction measures is used, but they are not easy to implement or enforce. In short, to achieve success, realistic expectations and priorities, clear policy goals, enforcement capacity, and the political will are paramount.