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–– Training in meteorological services;–– As part of monitoring and trend development,WSO also sends rainfall and temperaturedata to National Weather Service ForecastOffice Guam to keep them briefed. NOAA’s PEAC and the Guam Forecast Officeprovide long and short term rainfall outlooks andforecast.The Richard H. Hagemeyer Pacific TsunamiWarning Centre (PTWC), located on Ford Island(Oahu, Hawaii), serves as the operational centreof the Tsunami Warning System (TWS) in thePacific. The TWS detects and locates majorearthquakes in the Pacific Basin to determinetsunami generation and provide timely andeffective tsunami information and warnings to thepopulation of the Pacific.The University of Guam, together with NOAA,holds a monthly conference with the WSO todetermine national disaster trends and threats.Through their projects and focal points on theouter islands, the International Organization forMigration (IOM) and the International Federationof the Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC)provide rainfall data validation etc. via the WASHcluster. They also provide some capacity buildingfor outer island observers:The Marshall Islands Red Cross Society(MIRCS) works with WSO to monitor weatherinformation and tidal schedules to preparefor extreme or potentially damaging events.MIRCS, in cooperation with WSO and theNDMO, conducted a pilot Community BasedEarly Warning System project in Jenrok (2015to 2016 FINPAC-IFRC/SPREP) to enable thecommunity to better prepare for and respond inthe event of a disaster.Pacific Community (SPC) in the provision of technicalsupport in particular: Climate and Oceans Support Program in thePacific (COSSPac) sea level and temperaturemonitoring programme;Water and sanitation programme includinghydrological assessments;Regional Meteorological Council (member);SPREP (climate change monitoring; Fin Pacproject).ChallengesThe science on droughts is not precise. Localiseddata on vulnerability is needed to forecast whether adrought will emerge.Support ArrangementsDisaster preparednessThe WSO seeks support in the following areas: Training for outer islands communityrepresentatives in collecting and reporting rainfalland temperature data and writing reports;Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) training forthe NDMO;Community assessment of rainfall gauges andcommunicating findings;IOM’s office in Majuro and Pohnpei (as well asregional and global support if required) and IFRC’sNorth Pacific and Suva Offices are ongoingpartners in the provision of technical assistance asdescribed above for disaster monitoring.National ReferenceDocuments/WebsitesCOFA agreement. Agreement between RMI andUnited States of America (USA) http://bit.ly/2tjxaCaNational Structures/ContactsReginald WhiteMeteorologist in Charge WSO Majuro, RMIEmail: Reginald.white@noaa.gov, T: 692 247 5705Lee JacklickDeputy Director RMI Weather ServiceEmail: Lee.jacklick@noaa.gov, T: 692 456 4108Timmy LangrineDirector, NDMOEmail: ndmodirector@gmail.comReference InformationInternational Guidance/ResourceMaterialIndex for Risk Management (INFORM):http://bit.ly/12kulOxIFRC Guiding Principles: Community EarlyWarning Systems http://bit.ly/2tAj2jlWMO Guidelines on Early Warning Systems:http://bit.ly/2tAyZWxPacific Disaster Centre: http://bit.ly/2purAYi8REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS The Country Preparedness Package

2. LEGISLATION Current StatusThe National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) of1997 and the Standard Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP)of 2005 are the key documents guiding the RMIdisaster management.The NDC is the designated lead agency forimplementing both the NDMP and the HMP. Beingdirectly accountable to the Cabinet, the NDC isresponsible for the provision of technical advice andresource support to facilitate the implementationof disaster management programmes and forensuring that an adequate and reliable disastercontrol and coordination mechanism is in placeto accommodate effective disaster response andrecovery requirements.The primary agency responsible for disastermanagement programmes and activities is theNDMO. Local governments are responsible forassisting the NDMO to develop specific programsfor each atoll. To facilitate this process, the NDMOprovides technical advice and serves as the focalpoint for the coordination of Government resourcesupport.Visa or entry requirementsNon-residents arriving from overseas via Honoluluor any other US state will require relevant ESTAdocumentation (https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov) clearance.It is recommended to carry a hard copy of the ESTAclearance for check-in purposes. Emergency staffarriving from other countries will require ImmigrationClearance. Assuming that partners operate throughformal channels (principally the CSO), the CSOwill liaise with the ministries of Foreign Affairs andImmigration to ensure any necessary exemptions/entry requirements for essential staff are observed tofacilitate rapid entry.Support ArrangementsWhile the CSO will facilitate the necessaryexemptions/entry requirements for essential stafffrom the humanitarian community during disaster,there is no existing legislation presently that explicitlyestablishes or clarifies the relationship between thegovernment of RMI and the international communityin a disaster event.National ReferenceDocuments/ Websites1987 Disaster Assistance Act: http://bit.ly/2ukesaCHazard Mitigation Plan: http://bit.ly/2sl1jwyNational Structures/ContactsTimmy LangrineDirector, NDMOEmail: ndmodirector@gmail.comBenjamin GrahamChief Secretary, CSO 692 625 5150Email: graham.benjamin@gmail.comKino KabuaDeputy Chief Secretary, Chief Secretary’s OfficeEmail: kinokabua@gmail.comReference InformationInternational Guidance/ResourceMaterialIFRC International Disaster Relief Law Guidelines:http://bit.ly/2tlgoCFPartners IFRC provides technical assistance togovernments on International Disaster ResponseLaw (IDRL). (See reference document “RegionalGuidelines for International Disaster Assistanceand Cooperation in the Pacific,” which drawsfrom the outcomes of 2015 Pacific IslandForum (PIF) Foreign Ministers meeting and waspresented at PIF 2016.)MIRCS was established under the MarshallIslands Red Cross Society (Incorporation andRecognition) Act in 2013 as the Red Crossof the RMI and auxiliary to the government inhumanitarian and disaster relief services.Regional Guidelines for International DisasterAssistance and Cooperation in the PacificStrengthening Legal Frameworks for Disasters in thePacific: Workshop ReportREPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS The Country Preparedness Package9

3.DISASTER STRUCTURES, PLANS,POLICIES AND SOPsCurrent Status1994 also saw the passing of:Policies and plans RMI development strategies are included in theNational Strategic Plan (NSP), which has a timeframeof three years (2015 to 2017). The NSP is designedas a framework to coordinate the articulatedmedium-term development goals and objectivesof the RMI government at the national level. TheNSP is used by government leaders as a roadmapfor development and progress in the medium-term(2015 to 2017) and will be continually updated foruse in meeting long-term objectives as the RMImoves towards the scheduled completion of theCOFA as amended funding in 2023.The NSP contains five sectors, with each sectorbroken down into several strategic areas and isintended to coordinate with national policies andongoing and/or planned strategic plans in the RMIgovernment ministries, agencies and State-OwnedEnterprises (SOEs). The five sectors are (1) SocialDevelopment (2) Environment, Climate Changeand Resiliency (3) Infrastructure Development (4)Sustainable Economic Development and (5) GoodGovernance. Each sector is then broken down intorelated strategic areas. Vulnerability Assessment andDisaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Managementand Response are specific strategic areas underSector 2.Specific and formalised Disaster Managementcommenced in RMI in 1987 with the passing of theNDMP.In 1994, the Disaster Assistance Act was passed,providing for the establishment of the NDMC and theNDMO located in the Office of the Chief Secretary.The Act clarifies the role of the Cabinet and localgovernments in disaster prevention, preparedness,response, and recovery between agencies, and formatters thereby connected.10 A Hazard Mitigation Plan, a systematic programto identify hazards, monitor changes invulnerability, develop and implement measures toreduce or eliminate these vulnerabilities. The planfocuses on vulnerabilities to tropical storms andtyphoons as these reflect the most catastrophicthreat to the islands;A National Disaster Manual;An Airport Disaster Plan.A Drought Disaster Plan was passed in 1996,followed by the drafting of a revised NDMP in 1997.The most recent legislative activity on the DisasterRisk Management front was the development of aStandard Hazard Mitigation Plan in 2005.The Marshall Islands Emergency Response Plan2010 describes response functions, lead andsupport agencies and their roles for Health andMedical, Fire and Rescue, Evacuation, CommunityWelfare, Logistics Supply, Information Managementand Impact Assessment. The Plan is still notendorsed and therefore is not yet operational (andnot publicly available).The Immediate and Near-Term Response Planfor the Republic of the Marshall Islands Droughtwas developed in 2013 to detail the work to beundertaken in support of the 2013 drought within theFood, WASH, Health and Infrastructure and Logisticsclusters.At a strategic level, the National Action Plan forDisaster Risk Management (DRMNAP) 2008 to2018 outlines priority actions for risk reduction.The Joint National Action Plan for Disaster RiskManagement and Climate Change (JNAP) wassubsequently established in 2010 to 2011 and alignswith actions identified under the DRMNAP, as well asthe subsequently developed 2011 National ClimateChange Policy Framework (NC-CPF). Together,these policies provide a comprehensive guide for theimplementation of risk reduction measures relating todisaster and climate change.REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS The Country Preparedness Package

On humanitarian response, the Pacific HumanitarianTeam (PHT), clusters and international supportare not legislated in RMI. The exception is RMIand the United States, which have agreed to theprovision of supplemental US disaster assistancefor large disasters through the Amended CompactAgreement.National disaster arrangements were reviewedin October and November 2016 under the SPCexecuted, EU funded Building Safety Resilience inthe Pacific (BSRP) project. While the findings of thereview are not yet public, they essentially propose arevision of the Disaster Assistance Act and relatedarrangements.In terms of support from other international partners,the Disaster Assistance Act will be updated in 2017and the role of the humanitarian community andclusters etc. may be formally considered.SystemsStructuresThe Chief Secretary is the Disaster Controller, orthe key disaster management official with overalldisaster management responsibility. The Presidentis responsible for the Chief Secretary’s Office (CSO).The Chief Secretary oversees the NDC and theNDMO: Under the Disaster Assistance Act, the NDMO isthe primary government agency responsible formatters pertaining to the coordination of DisasterRisk Management in RMI. The NDMO falls withinthe CSO, and the NDMO Director reports tothe Chief Secretary through the Deputy ChiefSecretary (Annex 1). The NDMO is responsiblefor day-to-day management of disastermanagement programs and activities, with theNDMC responsible for providing technical adviceand support for disaster management programsand activities, including operational response andrecovery. The main responsibilities of the NDMOare to assist the Chief Secretary in the exerciseof functions under the Disaster AssistanceAct 1987. The NDMO coordinates all matterspertaining to capacity building and institutionalstrengthening in Disaster Risk Management(DRM) at the national and municipal/island levelacross the country.The NDC is responsible for mitigating the effectsof any disaster and for conducting counterdisaster operations. It provides technicaladvice and support to the Chief Secretary inthe performance of duties. The Chief Secretarymay appoint a number of members for the NDCto serve on a Central Control Group (CCG)during the response period and to assist in theexecution of special operational tasks whennecessary.In the case of natural hazard related disasters,the RMI National Weather Service Office adviseson threats, early warning messages, droughtstatements to the NDMO. Then, the NDMO alertsthe clusters on the threat and initiates analysis ofthe situation. Based on the information provided,the NDMO advises the Chief Secretary, the chairof the NDC, of the threat. The Chief Secretarywill convene a meeting with the NDC to discussresponse measures, including the declaration of adisaster/state of emergency and the activation ofan EOC. Once a consensus is achieved within theNDC, recommendations are made to the Cabinet.The Cabinet decides on proclamations, amends orrescinds them and the NDC advises their membersand clusters accordingly.According to the Disaster Assistance Act 1987, theNDC comprises of the Chief Secretary (Chair), Chiefof Police, Secretary of Public Works, Secretary ofResources and Development, Secretary of Internaland Outer Island Affairs, Secretary of Foreign Affairs,Secretary of Finance, Secretary of Transportation &Communication, Secretary of Health & Environment,Secretary of Internal Affairs, Secretary of SocialServices and Secretary of Education.Other members may be called as needed, such asthe Director NDMO, the Commissioner of PublicSafety Manager, Manager of the National WeatherService, Manager of the Majuro Energy Company,Manager of the AMI, Director of the Water andSewer Company and Tobolar (in relation to shipping;see Section 13. Private Sector Engagement &Coordination).REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS The Country Preparedness Package11

Assessment and ResponseThe CSO and the EOC lead disaster response.Although there are currently no ToRs for themembership or operation of the EOC, the NDMO ispresently working on their development and the ToRsare expected to be developed in 2017. RMI operates a five-cluster system for disastercoordination: WASHHealthLogisticsFood Security and AgricultureInfrastructure (including a sub-cluster on Shelter) ToRs for the clusters, the EOC or other DRMstructures are currently incomplete, but some arebeing drafted.Inter-cluster coordination is managed via the NDCand the NDMO. An inter-cluster group for RMI doesnot formally exist, although an inter-cluster groupconvened in the EOCs during the 2015 to 2016drought.Rapid needs assessments and deployment ofemergency supplies to meet the immediate lifesavingneeds are coordinated by the NDMO throughclusters, if relevant.Joint Needs Assessments are generated throughgovernment sectors; however, these assessmentsmay be supported by USAID Office of US ForeignDisaster Assistance (OFDA).Decision making and leadership is achieved throughthe Cabinet and is assisted by Ministerial andcommunity-level work: 12The NDMO utilizes the EOC and clusters toprovide recommendations to the NDC fordecision-making and further recommendationsto the Cabinet.The Ministry of Culture and Internal Affairs(MoCIA) is the administrative coordinator for localcouncils, which are established in each of theinhabited islands and are headed by a mayor.Local council activities include local policeservices, solid waste collection and maintenanceof local roads. MoCIA is a key partner forDisaster Risk Reduction (DRR)/DRM issuesbetween the national and local levels, such asthrough the annual mayors conferences, theLocal Government Division, the Marshall IslandsMayor Association (MIMA) and mobile teams.Outer Island Disaster Committees (DisComs)and disaster focal points exist for several islands.Together, the focal points and DisComs areresponsible for relaying early warnings, assistingthe community to prepare for disasters andreporting through standardized reporting forms.Many communities do not yet have DisComsand/or need to strengthen focal points.A community based area managementframework called the Reimaanlok ConservationStrategy provides relevant agencies with acollection of tools for community engagementto leverage cultural heritage for development,including DRM, thereby enhancing resilience.The strategy takes an ecosystem approachin addressing community based DRR issuesthrough conservation efforts implemented bythe Coastal Management Advisory Committee(CMAC).The local government has the responsibility forassisting the NDMO in the development of specificprograms for each atoll (e.g. dissemination of publiceducation material and conduct of awarenessactivities, development of local plans and operationalprocedures and identification and documentation ofsafe evacuation shelters). To facilitate this process,the NDMO provides technical advice and serves asthe focal point for the coordination of governmentresource support.Partners The US government supports disasterpreparedness and risk reduction programmingthrough USAID/OFDA and USAID/Pacific basedin Manila. If a disaster is beyond the capacity ofthe Government of RMI, it may request disasterassistance from USAID/OFDA. For large-scaledisasters, the Government of RMI may requestsupplemental US disaster assistance througha US Presidential Disaster Declaration, whichenables funding support from the US FEMAthrough USAID. US Supplemental disasterassistance is managed by USAID/OFDA foremergency disaster relief and by USAID/Pacificfor disaster reconstruction. Supplemental USdisaster assistance may include reconstruction inthe event of large scale damage to housing andpublic infrastructure.REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS The Country Preparedness Package

If the Government of RMI determines that a USPresidential Disaster Declaration is required aftera large disaster, it will take the following steps: a)declare a national state of disaster; b) utilize theDisaster Assistan

Government of the Marshall Islands Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands Pacific Humanitarian Team Office for the Pacific Islands Level 6, Kadavu House For general enquiries: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) as Secretariat of the PHT Phone: 679 999 166 Email: pht@ochapacific.org or ochapacific@un.or REPUBLIC OF THE