Agency Overview
The National Emergency Management Agency was established through a Cabinet Minute on May 19, 1988 and staff appointed on May 1, 1989. The agency‘s predecessor, the National Emergency Relief Organisation (NERO) focused predominantly on relief.
Through NEMA (and by extension the National Disaster Management System) the country would pursue a comprehensive disaster management approach, from prevention, preparation for and mitigation against disasters, as well as emergency response, rehabilitation and recovery from such events.
NEMA‘s mission is "To coordinate a network of agencies and individuals within the country to direct their efforts to the maximum preservation of life and the protection of property in times of disaster."
The National Emergency Management System
NEMA is not a line agency. Rather, it works with the established services to achieve its mission. The first responders to emergencies remain the Fire, Police and emergency Health services. Where the mandates of these agencies are exceeded by the event (emergency/disaster) NEMA is tasked.
The agency receives the assistance of the Tobago House of Assembly and the Municipal Corporations in coordinating these events at the local level. Where most/all of the country is affected NEMA‘s Task Force is activated. This represents all organizations with responsibilities for telecommunications, search and rescue, health, critical facilities, traffic control and law enforcement, heavy equipment, road clearance and transportation etc.
The country can also call on support from the Caribbean region through the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency . The Minister of National Security and the Director NEMA are Council and Board members of CDERA respectively.
Indeed all the organizations identified, work before, during and after disaster events to minimize the adverse effects of disasters on Trinidad and Tobago.
NEMA‘s Roles and Functions
In addition to coordinating all activities related to disaster/emergency preparedness, response and recovery NEMA performs the following services:
- monitoring hazard mitigation programmes and evaluating the effectiveness with which hazard mitigation activities are being implemented by the appropriate governmental and non-governmental organizations;
- review internal agency plans for responding to natural and technological hazards;
- prepare inventories of personnel, equipment, and supplies that would be needed in emergencies;
- undertake training and simulation exercises;
- compiling, reviewing and providing support for the completion and/or updating of the component plans for oil spills, hazardous materials spills, industrial disasters, aircraft disasters, and maritime disasters;
- establishing an Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) which would house dedicated telephone lines and equipment to be used in emergency situations (The EOC is a facility for providing centralized operation, co-ordination and control of emergency/disaster response and releif operations);
- developing/conducting public information, education and training programmes for emergency management;
- producing directly through its own staff, or by using the technical expertise of other agencies: data, maps and other technical material that establish the nature of risk and vulnerability, on an area basis.
- Responsibility for disaster management in Trinidad and Tobago lies with every individual, family, community, government and private sector organization. NEMA coordinates the national system with these bodies and is committed to initiate and support the disaster management process in Trinidad and Tobago.