Read More

The Puerto Rico Science Technology and Research Trust (PRSTRT), AmeriGEO1, the NOAA Office of International Projects, the NASA Disaster Program, and the USGS group are organizing a Caribbean Mapathon 2022.

The PRSTRT realizes that Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) requires (1) Sustainable efforts, and (2) Resilient efforts. The PRSTRT has created the Caribbean Center for Rising Seas (CCRS) to add (3) Adaptation Tools to enhance the DRR methodology. Resilience relies on existing studies that have failed to convince decision-makers of the need to invest in reducing the underlying factors of risk and to take measures for the next centuries.

Different countries have focused mainly on reactive and compensatory investments such as funds for post-disaster response and recovery, the insurance of public assets, and catastrophic bonds to finance reconstruction as part of their sustainability efforts. Adaptation measures will be the next rung of enhancements to DRR. Adaptation will pivot the actions by our elected officials, who are tied to their tenure thus failing to plan for future generations, to embrace a future based approach.

Regional resilience and disaster risk reduction programs should be strengthened in the Americas, the Caribbean being an integral part, among inter-institutional and international partners and non-governmental organizations to ensure the timely availability of relevant data the integration of earth observations for the benefit of society.

 

About the Authors

 

Gilberto Guevara

Senior Manager at Puerto Rico Science, Technology & Trust, Director of the Resilient Business Innovation Program.

Email: gguevara@prsciencetrust.org

 

 

Ricardo Quiroga

MSc. NASA Disaster Risk Management Coordinator for the Americas. NASA Langley Research Center in Virginia, United States.

Email: ricardo.quirogavanegas@nasa.gov