Stipulations and Guidance for Large Developers in Regard to Disaster Risk
Reduction on Anguilla
Dear Potential Developer;
The Department of Disaster Management, whose Director “is responsible to the Governor
in Council for coordinating the general policy of the Government relating to mitigation
of, preparedness for, response to and recovery from emergencies and disasters in
Anguilla”. In regard to risk reduction by mitigation it is the position of the Department to
advise anyone requesting planning permission or actively preparing to engage in large
scale or at risk development in Anguilla of the threatened risk of natural and man made
disasters. Where the proposed development lies in the costal zone or when it is expected
to require significant off shore labour, certain stipulations may be required.
Attached are studies on hurricane impacts probability, hazard assessment and storm
surge and wave run up probability in Anguilla. Further information such as the slope
stability study and Coastal Zone study can be made available on request from the
Department. Research into global climate change, rising seas and Anguilla’s vulnerability
are currently ongoing and can be provided to help guide your planning and design.
The aim of the mitigation and risk reduction programme is to reduce your exposure to
loss through proactive education thereby reducing our risk of impact to the persons,
property and natural environment of Anguilla.
What follows are stipulations regarding the use of migrant labour on project:
Migrant Workers
The position of the National Disaster Management Committee, The Governors Office and
the Government of Anguilla is that migrant workers must be evacuated from the island in
the event of a threatened Tropical Storm or Hurricane event.
Therefore, given a time window to do so, the developer must evacuate the workers from
Island as directed by the Governor and / or the Chief Minister and take responsibility for
their safety and ongoing well being.
Housing for migrant workers must be adequate. They must be suitable for category
5 hurricane sheltering, or an alternate means of sheltering provided on site at the
same rating in the situation where workers are not able to evacuate Anguilla. They need
not be permanent structures however if not, must be attached to a foundation securely.
The Public Health and Safety Working Group of the National Disaster Management
Committee and the Director of Disaster Management, or designate, must inspect and
approve the facilities before occupying.
Emergency response, relief and recovery for migrant workers cannot rely on the public
system due to an undo burden on limited resources.
The developer must indicate where migrant workers would be coming from, nationality
for each, proposed length of stay and commitment to comply with health testing and
reporting prior to commencing stay on island.
Intent to introduce dependents of workers on island must be disclosed and dependents
must be included in the evacuation, long term and short term sheltering plans.
It is understood, at this stage, the numbers of migrant workers and the duration of their
stays will only be an estimate. However, once construction starts these numbers and
information on individual names, nationality and contact details must be updated every
January and June 1 and provide in list format to the Department of Disaster
Management for the sole purpose of public safety.
It is important to define the names and nationalities of all workers in case of a disaster or
emergency event wherein lives are in danger, lost or persons cannot be located; to help
facilitate notifications, search and rescue and recovery operations.
Disaster Mitigation, Risk Reduction and Planning
Disaster Management Plans will be required for migrant workers and the management
team. At the Outline Plan or EIA stage, a commitment to prepare such plans is required.
Updated to the Plans are required by May 1 of each year.
The plans themselves can be prepared after Planning Permission is issued, but before
construction work, location of, or housing of non local personnel commences.
The developer must provide several documents to the Department of Disaster
Management over the life cycle of the project.
These include:
• A Disaster Plan for the Development Team and Employees with the names and
nationality information in Annex form;
• A Disaster Plan for the Migrant Workers with the names and nationality information in
Annex form; and
• A Disaster and Business Continuity Plan for ongoing operations following turn over.
The Disaster Plans need to address steps for workers to take prior to an emergency when
there is notice (tropical storm/hurricane/volcanic ash) and when there is little or no
warning (Tsunami, Earthquake, Air Crash in vicinity of development, Oil Spill, Flooding.
Land Movement, etc). It needs to identify who of the management team are not
evacuating (site emergency team), provisions for safety and where sheltering; Who is in
charge and contact details, lists of supplies and instructions for post incident site checks
and resumption activities for business continuity.
It is strongly recommended that the Developer require their sub contractors to provide
similar information on their employees who are not nationals of Anguilla and this be
included in the sites disaster plans.
It is recommended by the Department of Disaster Management that buildings be
constructed in a sequence that provides an emergency shelter onsite for workers early in
the project.
Additional Site specific requirements and recommendations:
Because of predicted storm surge, electrical equipment and controls should not
be places at basement level;
Containers that remain on site for more than 3 months or during hurricane season
(June 1-December 1) must be tied down with adequate hurricane anchors;
Developers and construction buildings must be secured with hurricane ties;
In preparation for any hurricane, temporary sheds must be dismantled or secured
and construction materials must be secured, preferably inside, to prevent
damage to neighboring and nearby properties;
In an evacuation or identification process it is easier to manage migrant workers if
they have individual visas rather than a group visa;
That that one building be designed and agreed to serve as a shelter (Category 5
Hurricane Shelter) on the property for guests unable to evacuate and
consideration also be given to allowing the shelter to also benefit the local
population.
A site visit to all large developments takes place at the beginning of every
hurricane season. Additional site visits should be expected prior to and following
any storm or disaster event.
Thank you for your consideration of the above and feel free to call for additional
information or clarification at 264-476-3622.
----------------------------------Elizabeth F. Klute