State Fire and Rescue Service Jevgenijs Golovčuks

23/10/2014

DISASTER LOSS DATA RECORDING IN LATVIA

Workshop on Disaster Loss Data Recording in the EU: 23-24 October 2014

GENERAL REMARKS

1. Latvia has no UNIFIED database for disaster loss data recording;

2. We don’t have much disasters

3. Lack of insurance traditions in Latvia

Examples of recent disasters:

• extreme temperatures (heat waves, drought, heavy snowfalls -

2010, hail and sleet - 2010),

• storms – 1999; 2002; 2005;

• floods (also caused by ice jams) – 2010; 2013.

• forest fires (incl. peat bog fires, last year’s grass fires -

annually).

DATA LOSS RECORDING SYSTEM

According to JRC Scientific and Policy report - Recording Disaster Losses: Recommendations for a European approach (7.Scenarios for implementation)

Scenario 2: National / regional loss assessment authorities A country chooses to report only major losses, i.e. exceeding the threshold for the Solidarity Fund (0.3% of national GDP or 1.5% of regional GDP).

CASE STUDY: STORM 2005

• Severe wind storm on 8-9 January 2005;

• Storm created consequences caused significant damage to all economy sectors in Latvia (mostly to agriculture, forestry, electricity and infrastructure networks, transport and communication);

• Vast power cuts influenced some 60% of the country’s population; storm caused huge forest losses - over 7 million m3;

• Storm direction it caused substantial sea level rise and flooding; coastal erosion; other infrastructure and property damage.

CASE STUDY: STORM 2005 II

Comprehensive assessment was made, covering multiple sectors.

Information Note

to Cabinet of Ministers

Ministry Ministry Ministry Ministry

Ministry for environment and

regional development

Ministry of Finance

Municipalities

The Governmental Regulations № 1644

“Procedures by which Funds from the Budget Programme Funds for Unforeseen Events shall be Requested and Used”

Thank you for your attention!

Questions?