Paper details

Paper authors	Annabelle Moatty
In panel on	Bridging the gaps between knowledge and action in Disaster Risk Reduction
Paper presenter(s) will be presenting	In-Person / Online

Abstract

The 2017 hurricane season in the Caribbean Basin recorded 18 events (storms and hurricanes), including Category 5 hurricane Irma on which this intervention focuses. The aim of the study carried in Saint-Martin is to analyse the ‘window of opportunity’ of the post-Irma reconstruction. Located 250 kilometres north of Guadeloupe, Saint Martin is a small bi-national island composed of two entities: Sint Maarten in the south (state of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) and Saint-Martin in the north (French overseas ‘Collectivité’). Our research focuses on the French region, and reconstructions and formalises various attributes, operations and sectors preceding and following the passage of the cyclone. This research highlights twelve key variables distributed within four interdependent spheres (political-administrative, economic and financial, socio-cultural and land-use planning) of Saint-Martin’s vulnerabilities. The research outlines the balancing or reinforcing effects of four major variables of the post-disaster period: state re-engagement, post-disaster price increases, intra-communal solidarity and updating risk prevention plans. These results contribute to the decision-making process, both for local and national authorities and for the operational staff who intervene in post-disaster situations. Indeed, given the weight of pre-existing structures and operating patterns, it appears that disasters alone cannot be considered as a ‘window of opportunity’ to implement disaster risk reduction and recovery.

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