On Sunday, August 12, 2012, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) held the first Hazard, Vulnerability and Capacity (HVC) Mapping Exercise with the community members of Sekere municipality. The event took place at Sekere Elementary School throughout Sunday afternoon. Twenty-three participants from the Sekere Community were selected from a volunteer sign-up sheet circulated at a Climate Adaptation, Disaster Risk Reduction and Education (CADRE) Program socialization meeting conducted two weeks prior to the event.  The CADRE Program is supported by the Australian Government, through the Australian Agency for International Development  (AusAID) and aims to build the resilience of vulnerable communities in the FSM and the RMI to natural hazards, particularly those that are climate induced. Also in attendance were representatives of the FSM Office of Environment and Emergency Management (OEEM), the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), and the Conservation Society of Pohnpei (CSP).

The exercise was facilitated by IOM Training Assistant, Ms Canita Swigert and Emergency Response Adviser, Mr. Rick Herman; as well as CSP staff Kesdy-Ray Ladore.  The activity included the development of  a community profile which outlines the main risks in the community associated to hazards and vulnerabilities, as well as, the resources and capacities of the communities. An important part of the profiling included  physical mapping of the community, and the development of a hazard matrix, which included natural hazards, such as: flooding, landslides and storm damage. 

The main HVC mapping event included a physical mapping exercise in which the community members were divided into three groups. Each group sketched a map of Sekere and identified the key infrastructure that serves as a resource, such as evacuation centers; the capacities of the community, along with  mapping of the hazards that the community is likely to face.   Once they completed their illustrations of the Sekere map, a representative of each work group presented  their maps. The last activity was the Hazard and Vulnerability Matrix facilitated by Mr. Kesdy-Ray Ladore. The community members listed down three major threats or hazards Sekere is currently facing, the weaknesses and strengths in the community, and lastly, how the community can prepare or adapt to the three hazards listed.

A summary report will be generated and returned to the community in the next meeting on August 26, 2012 at 1:00pm, at Sekere School.

For further information contact:

IOM Micronesia
Tel. (691) 320 – 8735/95
Website: http://micronesia.iom.int/