National Action Plan for Disaster Risk Management 2009-2015.

The present National Action Plan for Disaster Risk Management is a multi-sectoral document adapting measures as part of an integrated strategy of the Cook Islands government and its sustainable development programs and plans. The text consists of 5 sections as follows: Situation Analysis (1); Development of the National Action Plan for disaster Risk Management (2); National Action Plan for disaster Risk Management (3); NAP Implementation Program (4); Indicative costs and Goal Profiles (5).
The specific Vision of the Cook Islands is a safe, resilient and sustainable Cook Islands. The Goals of the Plan are: Goal 1: Good Governance for Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Management at all levels. To this end some of the actions shall concentrate on reviewing relevant policies, legislation, organisational and decision making arrangements for DRM; developing a Policy Paper on DRM mainstreaming at all levels. Furthermore, sustainable funding for disaster risk reduction and disaster response and recovery shall be established. Goal 2: Strong Knowledge Base for more Effective Disaster Risk Management. To achieve this, it is essential to improve DRM formal education and training opportunities and strengthen overall information management and specifically information required for DRM programmes. Goal 3: Effective Preparedness, Response and Recovery. Some of the following strategies shall be implemented to achieve this main goal: strengthen the system of safety shelters and their management for times of disaster; develop disaster response plans and conduct operationl exercises for relevant agencies; strengthen capacity for search and rescue. Goal 4: Maintain Effective Early Warning Systems. To implement this, some of the following strategies shall be put in action: improve capacity for hazard forecasting and information dissemination; improve understanding of early warning systems including appropriate actions to take for different kinds of hazards Goal 5: Analysis and Assessment of Hazards to Reduce Underlying Risk. To this end it shall be necessary to reduce risks associated with the energy supply in the Outer Islands and therefore a plan for strengthening energy supply to the these islands is envisaged and a robust system of energy supply shall be set up. Goal 6: Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting. To this end a monitoring, evaluation and reporting system shall be developped for the DRM NAP.