Disaster Management Act, No. 57 of

2002 (DMA)

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Disaster Management Amendment Act, No. 16 of 2015

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National Disaster Management Framework (NDMF) of 2005

Mandating legislation

What do I need to know?

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But you may want to ask - how can this benefit me?

 

If you are a producer operating in a disaster stricken region, 

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• you can help to escalate the disaster declaration process

• you may be eligible for relief funds and need to understand the larger process that will be followed 

• you need to know who to contact 

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We want to answer a few of your questions and improve your general understanding of what disaster management entails.

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Being a semi-arid region with a lack of sufficient water as the most significant resource constraint, the Western Cape knows the devastating effect that droughts and floods may have on agricultural development. For the most part, disasters that have been declared in the province have been droughts or floods. The purpose of the legislative framework for Disaster Risk Management is therefore to provide an integrated and co-ordinated approach to preventing and reducing the risk of disasters, mitigating the severity of disasters, emergency preparedness, rapid response and post-disaster recovery.

Who is responsible for Disaster Risk Management from a Government perspective?

The Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA) has a sub programme under Sustainable Resource Management (SRM) called

Agricultural Disaster Risk Management (ADRM), which focuses on disaster risk management. ADRM aims

to lessen the impact of natural hazards and related risks through an integrated and coordinated approach.

A change in the state of the climate that can be identified by the changes in the variability of its properties and that persists for an extended period, typically decades or longer.

A progressive or sudden, widespread or localised, natural or human-caused occurrence which (a) causes or threatens to cause (i) death, injury or disease; (ii) damage to property, infrastructure or the environment; or (iii) significant disruption of the life of a community; and (b) is of a magnitude that exceeds the ability of those affected by the disaster to cope with its effects using only their own resources.

A continuous and integrated multi-sectoral, multi-disciplinary process of planning and implementation of m easures aimed at preventing or reducing the risk of disasters, mitigating the severity or consequences of disasters, emergency preparedness, a rapid response to disasters and post disaster recovery.

Measures taken during or immediately after a disaster in order to bring relief to people and communities affected by the disaster.

The degree to which an individual, a household, a community or an area may be adversely affected by a disaster.

Key definitions to understand in the context of Disaster Risk Management

the process

Local Farmers Association notified

Western Cape Dept of Agriculture notified

Sub-programme:

Agricultural Disaster Risk Management

Provincial Disaster Management Centre

to classify disaster as

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• Local

• Provincial

(As per DMA Section 23)

Provincial Cabinet (needs to support classification)

10 working days

National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC)

National Treasury

Damage verification

Professional Service Provider (PSP) appointed via tender

• Verify damage

• Recommend level of relief

Damage survey forms

Made available in disaster stricken area for farmers to complete

Funds transferred to WCDoA for distribution, as animal feed, coupons or pay back upon proof of invoice

Every 4 - 6 weeks

Indefinite timeline, depending on many factors