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Safety Factors & Resources |
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Guidance for Coastal Businesses and Hotels
Over the years, our vulnerability to tsunamis and other coastal hazards have increased as coastal development and population centres that occupy the Caribbean’s coastline continue to grow. Coastal communities and the businesses and hotels that operate in these communities also continue to be at-risk from a range of coastal hazards.
Businesses and hotels located on the coast can and must be prepared to take action to mitigate the impact from a range of coastal hazards. The application of mitigation measures through structural works, land use planning and building codes remains a priority in response to storm surge, coastal erosion, coastal flooding and the impact of severe weather systems. Above all, the main focus for all coastal business owners must be on education and the personal evacuation, as well as, the safe evacuation of staff, customers or tourists in the event of the issuance of a tsunami warning message or by national authorities or any warning message for another coastal hazard.
If you are a hotelier or the owner of a business that operates on or near the Caribbean coast, here are some tools that you may find useful to help manage your risk against tsunamis and other coastal hazards:
Multi-Hazard Risk Management for Tourism Businesses
A Training Program on How to Develop a Risk Management Strategy for a Tourism Business or Organisation [developed in 2004 by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) International Centre for Sustainable Tourism (AICST) has in partnership with the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA)].
Some key actions on How to Prepare your Business for the Next Tsunami include:
- Check with your National Disaster Office and National Planning Authority about the location of your business in relation to tsunami impact.
- Determine the primary risk of your business or entity.
- Back up all digital files onto a removable hard drive and keep at an alternative, inland site.
- Make copies of (and scan where possible) all important original paperwork and keep copies at an alternative, inland site.
- Mark all filing cabinets and files with a sticker indicating those that need to be removed and their priority when there is time for removal of items during an evacuation (distant tsunami).
- Create an evacuation plan. This plan can list the names of those responsible for the removal of items, a staff phone tree, a list of items for removal including the locations of these files and their priority, and evacuation route. Each member of your staff should have a role to play in the removal of items and should keep a copy of this plan with them at home or with a friend out of the evacuation zone. Also, be sure to name an alternate staff member in case of absence of the primary staff member.
- Train staff on how to evacuate themselves and customers or tourists to safety.
- Prepare and keep an evacuation kit at your business. The TCHWS Project has developed an informative flyer with guidance on the content of emergency kit supplies.
- Determine a meeting place for yourself and your family at a safe inland area. Ask your staff to do the same.
- Maintain an up-to-date inventory of all your equipment and stock on site and out of the evacuation zone.
For more information select one of the downloads below:
| How to Prepare Your Business for the Next Tsunami (1.06 MB) |
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| How to Develop a Risk Management Strategy for a Tourism - Participants Workbook (931.24 KB) |
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| How To Devlop a Risk Management Strategy for a Tourism Business _Org - Instructors Guide (981.22 KB) |
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| Understanding Tsunamis (269.87 KB) |
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| Coastal Hazards Brochure (409.05 KB) |
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