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Job Opportunity:  ICT Support Specialist, CDEMA Coordinating Unit

The ICT Support Specialist will provide support to the ICT Manager in advancing the work of the ICT Unit. Specifically, he/she will provide technical assistance to CDEMA CU users, respond to queries and provide troubleshooting support including via electronic and other communication means from remote locations

Open To:

Employees of the CDEMA CU as well as all citizens and permanent residents of CARICOM countries

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EVENTS:

There has been continuous heavy rainfall in Region 9 and in the Roraima State of Brazil resulting in the Rio Branco, Ireng and Takutu Rivers overflowing their banks. As a result of this event, Lethem and its environs and other low lying areas of Region 9 have become inundated with flood water.

PROGNOSIS

The Hydrometeorological Department of the Ministry of Agriculture forecasted that Region 9 can expect mostly cloudy conditions with occasional showers for the rest of the week. (Click Here)

Inviting comments on the Draft EWS Document

INTRODUCTION:

The frequency of disasters and losses (people and assets) is increasing globally and is expected to increase further with climate change (greater frequency of extremes). Natural hazards, such as storms, droughts, floods, or earthquakes, need not spell disaster. A disaster occurs only if a community or population is exposed to the natural hazard and cannot cope with its effects. Vulnerability is the potent additive that mixes with natural hazards to cause disasters.

In the field of disaster risk management, disasters or hazard impacts on a community can be significantly reduced with an effective Early Warning System (EWS). The term “Early Warning System” can mean different things to different people. It is much more than “the technology” used for monitoring and prediction. An effective EWS warns people in advance of likely hazards, and enables risks and losses to be mitigated through suitable preparatory measures and response actions. The technology used must be complemented by other essential components in order for it to be effective. In practice an EWS must be considered as a Complete Early Warning, Preparedness & Response System.

(For the full document Click Here)

Requesting comments be submitted by June 30, 2011 to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

- Assessment of losses ongoing, Regional Chairman
THE flood waters continue to recede and schools reopened yesterday as Region 9 (Upper Takutu/ Upper Essequibo) advances its recovery effort; and Regional Chairman Clarendo Lucas said an assessment of the losses is ongoing.
The shelters at Arapaima Primary School, Culvert City Nursery School and Christian Brethren were evacuated Sunday as residents returned home.
“The after effects of the flood, the damage that it left behind, is what is most worrying and over the next days we will be working to get a picture of the losses that residents suffered,” he said.
According to him, the challenge will be the support for those families that have lost entire crops to the flood.