In accordance with the “5.0” trajectory (0 vulnerability) of the Overseas Government, Elisabeth Borne, Minister of the Ecological and Inclusive Transition and Annick Girardin, Minister of Overseas, reaffirm their ambition to accelerate the implementation of the Earthquake Plan West Indies.
The French West Indies are indeed the regions of French territory where the hazard and the seismic risk are the highest. The objective is therefore to concretely improve the resilience of the West Indies in the face of earthquakes and to reinforce a risk culture that is already well established.
The Antilles earthquake plan was implemented in 2007, its second phase covers the period 2014-2020. It defines a comprehensive prevention strategy, which provides earthquake-proof reinforcement or the reconstruction of public buildings that must be given priority security (schools, social housing, fire stations, state buildings used for crisis management, etc.) as well than the essential actions of training and awareness of seismic risk.
Since its launch, the Antilles earthquake plan has made it possible to carry out and contract out work for 30% of vulnerable educational establishments, 30% of vulnerable social housing and 75% of Departmental Fire and Rescue Services.
For the first time, and in order to strengthen the association and the mobilization of local actors, the National Steering Committee met on October 8, 2019 in Guadeloupe, chaired by Frédéric Mortier, interministerial delegate for major risks in Overseas, with local elected representatives from the West Indies and representatives of the State (prefectures, general directorate for risk prevention, general directorate for overseas territories).
On this occasion, four priorities were identified:
• The need to take stock of the current phase of the plan in the course of 2020, in consultation with all stakeholders, to prepare the third phase of the plan and to confirm the commitment of the State over time;
• Make upgrading to earthquake-resistant standards and prevention a priority for the next European operational programs 2021-2027;
• Reinforce support for local authorities to accelerate earthquake-proofing work for the building. ;
• Develop shared references for the techniques and costs of earthquake-resistant works in order to optimize the security of buildings.
This effort will continue through the convergence and transformation contracts which plan to mobilize € 133 million for the 2019-2022 period (€ 63 million from Barnier Fund, € 33 million for local authorities and € 31 million from European funds, 6 million € from the Overseas Ministry), excluding the intervention of the Single Budget Line for social housing.
The Antilles earthquake plan in a few figures:
• Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Martin
267 million euros from the Fund for the Prevention of Major Natural Risks (FPRNM) for all earthquake-resistant operations since 2007
• Educational institutions
86 primary schools, 24 middle schools, 22 high schools (completed and committed).
• Social housing
8 dwellings completed and committed.
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