Although Guyana’s flooding has been classified as a Level 2 Disaster under the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency’s (CDEMA) regional response mechanism, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) yesterday confirmed that five regions are classified even worse as the impact has varied.
“Despite Guyana’s situation being classified as Level 2, the impact of the flood in the regions vary, with regions 1, 3, 4, 8 and 9 being at Level 2, given national capacity to manage the impact, while regions 2, 5, 6, 7 and 10 are classified as Level 3, based on the magnitude of the flood. It is for this reason that regional and international support is needed to effectively mobilize resources in order to respond and recover from the impact of the floods,” the CDC said in a statement yesterday.
According to CDEMA, a Level 2 Event is one in which the national capacity to respond is not overwhelmed, but some external assistance is required. The affected State may or may not declare a disaster. In this scenario, the CDEMA Coordinating Unit may provide technical assistance, specialised equipment, support personnel and information sharing.
In comparison, a Level 3 Event overwhelms the capacity of an affected State to respond.
Last Wednesday, President Irfaan Ali announced that Guyana’s flooding has been classified a Level 2 Disaster. Given the situation, Ali has formally declared the flooding a national disaster and an official proclamation was recorded in the Official Gazette on Thursday under Article 99 of the Constitution, which vests the executive authority of Guyana in the President, who has responsibility for disaster management.
The CDC said that under the Constitution, the President has been authorized to declare a disaster if he is satisfied that a disaster has happened and it has become necessary for the CDC to exercise disaster management powers, to prevent or minimize loss of human life, illness or injury to humans, property loss or damage to the environment
This has seen intensified efforts at the regional level to better coordinate response activities with the CDC.
“To date, a total of 17,829 cleaning hampers and 21,735 food hampers have been distributed across the regions as a form of emergency relief. The Commission continues to manage shelters set up in regions 2, 9 and 10, housing a total of 205 residents who have been displaced from their homes,” the statement added.
The statement by CDC noted that a Tropical Wave embedded within the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone is currently affecting Guyana, resulting in heavy rainfall which could last until mid-July. The statement said that CDC has received reports of more than 29,000 households suffering from flooding in more than 300 communities countrywide.
Prime Minister Mark Phillips last Thursday reported to the National Assembly that the rainfall recorded over the past month was the second highest in four decades.
“Based on the latest seasonal reports, it is estimated that we will continue to experience above normal rainfall during the period June to August, 2021,” Phillips also said.
“With these conditions expected to continue in the coming weeks, Mr Speaker, residents are asked to take necessary precautions and safeguard against additional flooding, strong winds, lightning and mud slides in their community,” he warned.
