Adoption of natural disaster preparedness and risk reduction measures by business organisations in Small Island Developing States - A Caribbean case study

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Caribbean continue to experience natural disasters which result in loss of life, as well as severe financial losses and economic distress despite the sustained efforts of regional and international agencies to promote disaster risk reduction. Main productive activities, including tourism and agriculture, are usually severely affected by these events, with consequent negative effects on the host economies. The disposition of business enterprises to take natural disaster risk management action is likely to be a factor in attenuating the severity of outcomes from natural hazard events. This study examines the risk reduction and preparedness measures implemented by a sample of business entities in two Caribbean SIDS, Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada which have different natural hazard exposures and natural disaster experience. The results indicate areas of deficiency, particularly with respect to risk reduction. The findings also suggest that the responses are influenced mainly by the nature of the business and the characteristics of the organisations, rather than by natural disaster exposure and experience. Recommendations are offered for public policy initiatives that may successfully motivate the business sector to assist in reducing severe natural disaster effects from major natural hazard events in the Caribbean.