The Emergency Resources Mapping Project was first piloted in Belize and is now underway in St. Kitts & Nevis. Its goal is to create a comprehensive, openly accessible map and database of critical emergency resources, strengthening disaster preparedness and enabling anticipatory action across the region. Implemented in partnership with CDEMA, NEMA, and NDMD, the initiative combines community engagement, volunteer training, and open data collection to build resilience, inform decision-making, and enhance coordination among emergency management stakeholders.

Context

The Caribbean is one of the world’s most disaster-prone regions, facing frequent hurricanes, tropical storms, flooding, earthquakes, and other hazards. Effective disaster preparedness and response depend on timely, accurate, and accessible data, yet many countries in the region face critical gaps in geospatial information on emergency resources such as shelters, hazardous areas, and communication infrastructure.

To address this challenge, the Open Mapping Hub - Latin America and the Caribbean, in partnership with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), launched the Emergency Resources Mapping Project as a regional initiative to strengthen disaster resilience through open data and participatory mapping.

The project was first piloted in Belize in 2024, where over 30 volunteers were trained to map key emergency resources, producing open datasets that support national disaster management planning. Building on the success and lessons of the Belize pilot, the initiative is now being implemented in St. Kitts & Nevis, in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Nevis Disaster Management Department (NDMD). This expansion reinforces a regional commitment to increase the availability and use of open-source data for disaster risk reduction (DRR) and emergency response, while fostering a culture of open mapping across the Caribbean.

Approach

The project will be delivered over four months and will include:

• Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborating with CDEMA, NEMA, NDMD, and other relevant actors to identify priorities and share project objectives.

• Volunteer Recruitment & Capacity Building: Recruiting and training volunteers in open mapping tools, data standards, and disaster preparedness applications.

• Data Collection & Validation: Mapping priority emergency resources (e.g., shelters, hazardous zones, communication towers) through field surveys and remote mapping in Tasking Manager.

• Data Analysis & Visualization: Producing high-quality maps and datasets in open formats, integrating feedback from stakeholders.

• Knowledge Sharing: Presenting results in a final workshop to increase awareness, promote use of the data, and identify future actions.

Belize Case Study

The Belize pilot of the Emergency Resources Mapping Project trained a cohort of 30 young volunteers to collect and map open data on critical emergency resources, including hazardous areas and communication towers. Implemented with CDEMA and NEMO, the initiative strengthened local capacity for disaster preparedness and anticipatory action, providing open datasets to support national emergency planning and response.

Results / Impact

• Open, georeferenced database of key emergency resources in Belize City, Belmopan City, San Ignacio, Santa Elena, and later Corozal.

• 30 trained volunteers capable of supporting future emergency mapping and response efforts.

• Enhanced NEMO capacity to integrate OSM data into planning, mitigation, and early warning systems.

• Raised awareness of the importance of open mapping for DRR among youth, local authorities, and partners.

Lessons Learned

• Youth volunteers can rapidly acquire mapping skills when training is practical and connected to local realities.

• Field validation is essential to ensure data accuracy and stakeholder trust.

• Partnerships with national agencies like NEMO are key to embedding open mapping into formal disaster management workflows.