Damage and Loss Assessment (DALA)

The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (UNECLAC) developed the DALA Methodology in the 1970s. The aim of the DALA is to assess the macro socio-economic and environmental impacts of natural disasters. It is conducted 4-6 weeks after a hazard impact. These assessments are carried out by persons with detailed technical knowledge of each of the specific sectors. The DALA Methodology provides technical assistance to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to capture the full extent of damage and losses incurred by communities in the aftermath of a disaster.

DALA bases the assessment of disaster impacts on the overall economy of the affected country as well as on household level. This provides a basis for defining the needs for recovery and reconstruction following any disaster. DALA estimates:

• The replacement value of totally or partially destroyed physical assets that must be included in the reconstruction programme.
• Lossses in the flows of the economy that arise from the temporary absense of the damaged assets.
• The resulting impact on post-disaster economic performancem, with special reference to economic growth, the governemnt’s fiscal position and the palance of payments.