Responsibilities of Government Agencies

All Government Agencies and Ministries are responsible for designing their own continuity of operations and emergency response plans. These plans must provide for security of the organisations’ facilities, materials, information, vehicles, equipment, uniforms and personnel as well as to determine emergency response procedures to provide assistance to the population according to the specific organisations’ role during emergencies and disasters.

All plans and revisions must be submitted to the National Disaster Co-ordinator. Of the NaDMA not later than 30th April of each year for submission to the National Emergency Disaster Management Council within one week of receipt of document.

As a general rule, Government agencies and officers will continue to exercise their normal functions during a disaster, but in some cases, special additional responsibilities will be assigned.

It is important to note the following:

In case where a Department or Statutory Body is assigned specific responsibilities in this document, ultimate responsibility rests with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry concerned. The Permanent Secretary must ensure that all members of staff involved are familiar with the plan.
Where more than one agency is involved with the same area of activity, it is the responsibility of the first listed Permanent Secretary or Head of Department, unless otherwise indicated herein, to arrange meetings to arrive at a common line of action.
Where an agency has to liaise with another organisation it must make sure that inter-communication is well established, e.g. by exchange of telephone numbers of relevant personnel and a code for recognition.

Some of the actions, which will be required to be performed, and which should be detailed in individual disaster plans are as follows:

5.1.- Office of the Prime Minister.

Chair the National Disaster Management Council.
Co-ordinate all response. Relief and rehabilitation activities from the EOC during emergencies and disasters.
Declare a National Disaster when necessary.
Co-ordinate all the reconstruction activities.

5.2.- Ministry of Finance, Planning & Development

To design, update, test and evaluate continuity of operations and emergency response plans and procedures.
organise post-disaster damage and needs assessments
Collect, collate and maintain damage statistics
Estimate amounts of financial and other relief and rehabilitation requirements
Assist with co-ordination of supplies and other assistance received by government and non-governmental organisations
Provide budgetary support for emergency expenditure

5.3.- Police

To design, update, test and evaluate continuity of operations and emergency response plans and procedures.
Protection of public property, and prevention of looting/vandalism.
Traffic control to and from Emergency areas and hospitals
Crowd Control
Evacuation procedures
Security of essential services and vulnerable points
Co-ordination of Telecommunication system

5.4.- Fire Service

To design, update, test and evaluate continuity of operations and emergency response plans and procedures
Hazardous material and hazardous waste handling.
All fire-fighting operations
Assistance in fires at sea
Assistance in evacuation
Pumping of flood water
Airport fire and rescue

5.5.- Grenada Coast Guard

To design, update, test and evaluate continuity of operations and emergency response plans and procedures for land and maritime search and rescue.
Search and Rescue - from any part of the island; including Carriacou and Petite Martinique
Law Enforcement - in contact with other vessels carrying Arms and Ammunition.
Marine Safety - Distress, saving lives and property
Pollution Control - oily substances into the sea from other ships and from land into
the sea
National Security - Along the coastline etc.
Evacuation - assistance when required

5.6.- Ministry of Education

To design, update, test and evaluate continuity of operations and emergency response plans and procedures
Ensure selection and maintenance of government and non-governmental buildings considered as shelters is carried out.
Staffing of shelter in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Works, which will be
used as emergency shelters should be done in co-operation with Emergency
Committees as required.
Liaise with Ministry of Health review on Sanitary Services for shelters
Preparation of and the annual review of the operations administrative manual for
shelter wardens
Requisitioning relief food and other essential supplies for shelter occupants
Training of shelter staff
Collaborating with Voluntary services Sub-Committee in distribution of supplies and other material

5.7.- Ministry of Health

To design, update, test and evaluate continuity of operations and emergency response plans and procedures (including hospitals plans and procedures for other health facilities)
Training of personnel
Caring for injured, old persons and children/treatment of mass casualties
Education of the public in matters concerning public health
Arranging for mass immunization, if required
Investigating the quality of water supply
Ensuring that hospital and health centres make and practice disaster plans
Arranging for the prevention and /or control of any outbreak of disease resulting from a disaster
Preparation of a manual for First-Aid stations and personnel
Providing sanitary services for shelters
Establishing procedures for collaboration with the Red Cross Society and St. John's
Ambulance Brigade
Arranging for sanitary inspection of relief food supplies
Recording, tagging, identifying and burying the dead to ensure an adequate disposal of the dead by delivering the dead to their next of kin. (write MOUs with funeral homes).
Manning ambulance services
Monitor, assort, store and distribute relief medical supplies
Participate in assimilated drill on airport, accidents in co-operation with fire service and airport authority

5.8.- Ministry of Works, Public Utilities and Transport

To design, update, test and evaluate continuity of operations and emergency response plans and procedures
Road clearance
Assistance in rescue work in collaboration with Fire Officers
Provision of emergency transport service
Co-ordination with the Grenada Solid Waste Management Authority for debris management after clearance.
Maintenance of telecommunication system
Supply generators and motorcar batteries as directed by E.O.C.
Demolition of unsafe buildings
Evacuation operators as necessary
Erection of temporary bridges
Provision of protective materials, maintenance and repair to Government buildings
Maintenance and purification of National Water Service
The supply of emergency water service to key areas in association with NAWASA
Immediate of electricity services to key areas re emergency operation centre, health and security centres.
Restoring of telephone and telexes services to the Emergency Operation Centre and other key areas.
Co-ordination with GSWMA for the restoration of municipal solid waste collection and disposal services.

5.9.- Community Development Division

To design, update, test and evaluate continuity of operations and emergency response plans and procedures
In collaboration with the relevant government departments assist in the possible identification of suitable buildings, within their scope of authority, other than school which may be used as alternative emergency shelters.
Assist with registration of evacuees at shelters
Supplying of additional manpower if required by the senior shelter manager
Assist with the transfer and relocation of evacuees
Assist with information on possible numbers of evacuees and their district of organisations
Assist with the distribution of food and other supplies
Assist in the development of a register of all youth organisations as a resource manual for manpower support.
Assist with unsupervised children and senior citizens

5.10.- Government Information Service

To design, update, test and evaluate continuity of operations and emergency response plans and procedures
To ensure all members of the media design, update, test and evaluate continuity of operations and emergency response plans and procedures
Keep the public informed about disaster preparedness by the publication of special leaflets
Control the dissemination of information during and after a disaster.
Inform the public of the whereabouts of emergency shelters and first-aid post
Provide liaison between the public and the National Emergency Advisory Council on emergency preparedness matters
Arrange with the local media for broadcasts, talks and publication of information on disaster preparedness and prevention

5.11.- Ministry of Legal Affairs

To design, update, test and evaluate continuity of operations and emergency response plans and procedures
Review and the development of rules and regulation for shelter administration in collaboration with the Ministry of Education
Examine and update relevant sections of the Insurance Act for public liability
Examine and revise relevant sections under the Emergency Powers Act, to provide additional supervisory authority, through legislation, when required by the National Emergency Relief Organisation in order to guarantee full delivery of relief services.

5.12.- Ministry of Agriculture

To design, update, test and evaluate continuity of operations and emergency response plans and procedures
Identification possible sources of food that can be used if a disaster occur.
Maintenance of adequate food centres throughout the country
Assignment of personnel to work in these centres in the event of an emergency
Co-ordination with the Ministry of Works and Communication to arrange adequate transport service for the distribution of food
Assist Food and Nutrition Council in the designing of rationing systems.

5.13.- Marketing and National Import Board

To design, update, test and evaluate continuity of operations and emergency response plans and procedures
Maintenance of adequate stocks of food during the hurricane season
In collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and assignment of MNIB personnel to work in Food Centres

5.14.- Ministry of Social Development

To design, update, test and evaluate continuity of operations and emergency response plans and procedures
Distribution of welfare supplies (other than food)
Maintenance of adequate stocks of blankets, beds, feeding utensils, lanterns, torch lights, etc. during hurricane season

5.15.- Department of Customs & Excise - Finance

To design, update, test and evaluate continuity of operations and emergency response plans and procedures
Speedy handling of document in order too facilitate the inflow of relief supplies

5.16.- Ports Authority.

To design, update, test and evaluate continuity of operations and emergency response plans and procedures.
Collaborate in the receipt and storage of disaster relief goods.
Oil Spills and Coastal Zone Monitoring
Advise Ministry of Fisheries of safe methods of guarding the Fishing Fleet.
Informing and advising ships in the harbour of impending disaster.
Advising small boat owners on safety of their boats.

5.17.- Ministry of Foreign Affairs

To design, update, test and evaluate continuity of operations and emergency response plans and procedures
Informing Missions abroad of impending disaster
Establish contact with International Organisation and Agencies
Provide protocol services for visiting diplomats