Author(s)

D. A. Novelo-Casanova & G. Suárez

Abstract

Using the methodology developed by the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, USA, we determined the physical vulnerability to the impact of hazards of the main critical facilities at Grand Cayman (GC), Cayman Islands. Our results indicate that: 1) About 82% of the emergency response infrastructure, 95% of the government facilities, and 85% of the utilities have physical vulnerabilities in the range from low to moderate; 2) Only 12% of all identified critical facilities at GC are exposed to natural and man-made hazards with a high vulnerability; 3) GC shows a very good level of protection of its critical facilities to natural hazards; 4) Explosions or leaks of the Airport Texaco Fuel Depot and the fuel pipeline, could impact the George Town Red Cross Building, the Caribbean Utilities and the Owen Roberts International Airport. An explosion of the Home Gas Terminal could damage the John Gray High School, which is also used as shelter in case of emergencies. Keywords: vulnerability, hazards, physical vulnerability, natural hazards, manmade hazards, critical facilities, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. 1 Introduction Based on the characteristics of the main hazards that may affect the Cayman Islands (CI) [1], we identified the level of physical vulnerability for each of the 48 main critical facilities in Grand Cayman (GC). The main objectives of the assessment performed in this work are: 1) To prepare maps with critical facilities that might be exposed to or threatened by the natural or man-made hazards identified in GC, and 2) To increase the overall awareness of decision makers for disasters prevention and mitigation actions at CI.

Keywords

vulnerability, hazards, physical vulnerability, natural hazards, manmade hazards, critical facilities, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands