Disasters, Conflicts and Migration
|
Natural Disasters |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Type |
Occurs |
Comments / Details |
|
Drought |
Yes |
Affected as part of the Pacific drought between 2015-2017. |
|
Earthquakes |
Yes | Earth tremors- No earthquakes have caused any significant damage in the last 2 decades |
|
Epidemics |
Yes |
Cholera 1999 Dengue Outbreak - October 2016 Influenza A (H1N1) Pandemic - April 2009, August 2022 COVID 19 - July 2022 |
|
Extreme Temperatures |
No | |
|
Flooding |
Yes | Isolated usually coincides with King tide and La Nina periods |
|
Insect Infestation |
No | |
|
Mudslides |
Yes | Chuuk state Piis Paneau Mudslide 2002, Pohnpei 1998,2007 |
|
Volcanic Eruptions |
No | |
|
High Waves / Surges |
Yes | Severe Sea Swell Floods – December - February |
|
Wildfires |
No | Occur periodically in Chuuk |
|
High Winds |
Yes | Tropical Cyclones |
|
Man-Made Issues |
||
|
Civil Strife |
No |
|
|
International Conflict |
No | |
|
Internally Displaced Persons |
No | |
|
Refugees Present |
No | |
|
Landmines / UXO Present |
No | Chuuk, Pohnpei |
For a more detailed database on disasters by country, please see the Centre for Research on Epidemiology of Disasters Country Profile.
Seasonal Effects on Logistics Capacities
|
Seasonal Effects on Transport |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Transport Type |
Time Frame |
Comments / Details |
|
Primary Road Transport |
Nov - Apr |
Cyclone season can affect island roads or access tracks where causeways have been constructed to allow travel between and around islands. During the cyclone season high winds associated with high seas and especially king tides can affect causeway access and have caused damage especially on atolls. This damage often limits the passage or results impassable roads. |
|
Secondary Road Transport |
NA | |
|
Rail Transport |
NA | |
|
Air Transport |
Yes | Storm and cyclone season can affect scheduled flights however these are mostly between the four main states capital serviced by larger aircraft. Most islands are not serviced by air. |
|
Waterway Transport |
Yes | Inter-island transport from Pohnpei and other state capitals forms the critical supply link to the outer islands. During the Storm season, November to April, inter-island transport is affected by high seas which will delay deliveries to islands. All atolls, having a lagoon can, in almost all cases, receive vessels for re-supply assuming reef depth is sufficient. |
|
Seasonal Effects on Storage and Handling |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Activity Type |
Time Frame |
Comments / Details |
|
Storage |
All year |
The climate in FSM is hot and humid with the Island of Pohnpei, central and southern islands receiving the most rainfall. The northern islands tend to be drier. Climate influences do not severely affect the storage of local goods. |
|
Handling |
All year | Cyclone season occurs between November and April. During this time and although cyclones are not as prevalent in the North-East Pacific, high seas with the increase in the easterly trade winds can cause issues with inter-island transport. Wetter weather can cause handling issues especially in exposed dock areas and transshipment of goods to smaller tenders when in the Outer Islands. |
Capacity and Contacts for In-Country Emergency Response
GOVERNMENT
Emergency response operates nationally through the Department of Environment Climate Emergency Management (DECEM) in Palikir. Disaster coordination offices are present in each of the state capitals and have designated Disaster Coordination Officers (DCO). The DECEM provides the coordination and framework for Emergency response. The DCO at state level coordinates operational response in their respective regions. The cluster structure has not been established however it remains an organisational goal at DECEM to see its implementation. Outside major emergency responses DECEM and DCO are responsible for coordinating Sea Search and Rescue Operations in conjunction with US Coast guard based in Guam.
FSM Government relies significantly on international assistance during normal times and emergency situations. While DECEM is recognised as the emergency response structure mechanism nationally, state disaster coordination offices are in a capacity development phase and will need to be provided support to develop more effective responses at state level. FSM will continue to rely on outside sources in the case of larger emergencies. FEMA provide funding for disaster response if the assessed cost of a disaster is over USD 1m, under this figure, funding relies on the FSM Government’s own resources. FEMA funding is channeled through USAID to their implementing partners, IOM provide the response mechanism on the ground. To trigger this level of aid the Presidents of FSM and the USA must declare it a state of emergency.
Due to a limitation of resources, established businesses operating in the states’ capitals often assist small vulnerable groups where possible. The National Oceanic Resources Management Authority (NORMA, the Government agency responsible for managing the FSM’s fisheries resources) will also respond by communicating to the fishing fleets in FSM waters.
The US Coast Guard provides surveillance aircrafts for search and rescue, but military involvement in disaster response has been minimal and ad-hoc. Military (external) response assistance is not a part of any response planning and there are no formal frameworks.
For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Micronesia Government Contact List
HUMANITARIAN COMMUNITY
IFRC have a National office in Kolonia and are represented in the four states with prepositioned emergency NFI in container storage in each state (200 x family packs in Pohnpei and Chuuk, 100 x family packs in Yap and Kosrae). They work closely with UNICEF and IOM and sit on the National Disaster Response Committee. USAID have a strong presence in the region and have provided funding for UNDP, UNICEF and IOM who have ongoing programs throughout the region focused on disaster resilience and capacity building, prepositioning emergency stocks, education, water sanitation, health and nutrition, COVID responses and child protection.
For more information on humanitarian agency contact details, please see the following link: 4.2 Humanitarian Agency Contact List
