Assessing and Mitigating Earthquake Risk in the Caribbean and Central America (CCARA) Project
Background
Central America and the Caribbean (CAC herein) lays within an area of high seismicity associated with a complex tectonic setting, producing large destructive earthquakes, tsunamis, and explosive volcanoes. Seismicity is mainly concentrated along the main active plate boundaries. Several destructive earthquakes (M>7.0) are reported in historical earthquake catalogs and dedicated studies, which caused extensive damage and destruction on settlements, often associated with large numbers of casualties. Recent earthquakes (e.g. Haiti 2010 M=7.0, Costa Rica 1991 M=7.8, Guatemala 1976 M=7.5) demonstrated the actual and urgent need to reduce the impact of large events on nations within this region.
Earthquake risk is on the rise and earthquakes are expected to take an increasing number of lives. Hazard and risk assessments are the foundation for raising awareness among policymakers and the general public, forming the basis for decisions and actions that effectively build resilience and can reduce risk. While important work has been carried out in the Central American and Caribbean region to understand earthquake risk assessment and management, there is still ample room to enhance that understanding and properly introduce it in decision- and policy-making processes.
Objectives
To develop capacity in the region of Central America and the Caribbean for earthquake risk assessment by leveraging GEM tools and resources, to enhance the understanding of earthquake risk, and to bridge the gap between risk assessment and disaster risk reduction.
Scope
Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Year
2016 – 2018
Status
Ongoing
Funding partners
USAID
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