Protocol on HEAVY/TORRENTIAL RAIN AND TROPICAL STORMS / CYCLONES FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR
This protocol provides practical guidelines for public sector organizations in Mauritius to manage operations and ensure employee safety during periods of heavy rain, tropical storms, and cyclones.
Purpose and Objectives
The protocol aims to help ministries and public sector bodies respond effectively to severe weather warnings by protecting staff and maintaining essential services. It outlines how organizations should adjust work arrangements depending on weather alerts issued by the Mauritius Meteorological Services.
Key Procedures
- Staggered release of staff is recommended to prevent crowding and ensure safety, prioritizing vulnerable groups such as pregnant employees and those with mobility issues.
- Work-from-home arrangements are suggested when reporting to duty is deemed unsafe due to weather conditions.
- Outdoor workers must be relocated to safe areas, and general safety precautions are stressed, including staying informed and avoiding flood-prone locations.
Safety and Preparedness
- Ministries must conduct regular employee training, maintain clear communication channels, and update evacuation plans.
- Practical steps, like promoting the use of sandbagging and flood barriers, are also advised.
- Post-event, departments should report on impact and actions taken to the relevant national authorities using standardized forms.
This protocol is designed to be flexible and updated as necessary to align with regulatory changes and lessons learned from past events.
Protocol applicable during Natural Disasters
The Ministry of Social Integration, Social Security and National Solidarity (Social Security and National Solidarity Division) is responsible for the general preparedness of the evacuee centres for natural disasters such as cyclone, flood and landslide as per the established protocol applicable during Natural Disasters.
Evacuees Centres
Given the vulnerability of the country to the adverse effects of cyclones (cyclonic season starts on 01 November and ends on 15 May of the following year), Evacuees Centres have been established across the island to provide refuge to victims. With economic development and an improvement in the standard of living, the majority of people have better houses that can withstand cyclonic weather. However, over the past decade, the country has witnessed the phenomenon of flash floods, having devastating effect, as a direct consequence of climate change, whereby people affected by floods also take refuge in those Evacuees Centres.
As at date, there are 166 Evacuees Centres across the island.
All Evacuees Centres are supplied with basic foodstuff in terms of bottled water, biscuits, baked beans and canned tuna. With respect to mats, same are provided on a need basis and are kept at the Evacuee Centre for future use.
The Ministry of Social Integration, Social Security and National Solidarity employs on needs and ad-hoc basis three Officers namely a Supervisor, an Assistant Supervisor and a Caretaker to operate each of the evacuee centres. The staff list for the opening and manning of the Evacuee Centres are compiled and distributed to the relevant stakeholders prior to the start of cyclonic seasons each year.
According to the National Disaster Scheme 2015, Evacuee Centres are opened:
- Either when a Cyclone Warning Class III is issued by the Mauritius Meteorological Services
- Or following a request of National Disaster Emergency Operations Command (NEOC) in the event of heavy rainfall/flooding.
- In case of overcrowding, the officers responsible for the centre together with the National Emergency Operations Command (NEOC) and the Police, make arrangement to transfer the exceeding numbers of evacuees to nearby centres.
Payment of Cyclone Allowance
In accordance with the Social Aid Regulations, during cyclones each evacuee is paid cyclone allowance per night spent at the Evacuee Centre.
Payment of Flood Allowance
In accordance with the Social Aid Regulations, Flood victims are paid an allowance per day per member of the household upon presentation of a police memo certifying that foodstuffs have been damaged. This allowance is payable for a maximum of 3 days.
Other Schemes
The Ministry of Social Integration, Social Security and National Solidarity is in the process of devising new solidarity schemes to assist victims of climate related disasters and other mitigation measures for vulnerable people including those of Social Register of Mauritius.
