2010 FIFA World Cup Disaster Management Readiness

Why do we need Disaster Management planning for 2010?

The 2010 FIFA World Cup is an international sporting event, which places huge stresses on the Western Cape to be ready for the hosting of visitors in hotels, guest houses, the fan park, several public viewing areas and the newly constructed Green Point stadium.  This huge influx of visitors and spectators however could cause enormous stresses on essential and utility services, such as water and electricity supply, health and transport systems.

What is causing the increased risk to disasters during 2010?

With the increased risk to disasters and the stresses it could cause, the Provincial Disaster Management Centre (PDMC) of the Provincial Government of the Western Cape, had as far back as November 2007, initiated a coordinating disaster risk reduction approach that will address the possible negative consequences caused by human induced and/or natural disasters. All of these stresses could cause major disruptions during the FIFA World Cup event.

What are the authorities doing to reduce these risks?

Currently the PDMC is spear heading an integrated approach, in ensuring that all the possible risks that could cause major disruptions are identified and that the necessary risk reduction and recovery planning activities are adequately developed, tested and implemented before the 2010 event take place.

The PDMC officials are currently interacting with all the relevant national, provincial and municipal authorities to ensure that proper disaster risk assessments are conducted and to facilitate all relevant planning activities, which will ensure the readiness.  The Disaster Management Centre of the City of Cape Town is at an advance stage of the event planning process that focuses on the emergency preparedness of the stadium, Fan Park, event mile, public viewing areas, VIP protection and the safety aspects of identified hotels and guest houses.  The Disaster Management Centres of the province and the City of Cape Town are supporting each other to ensure that adequate disaster management planning is in place that could cater for possible disasters such as floods, fires and/or any major transport or utility services disruption.

Who does Disaster Management report to and how will they ensure proper coordination? 

To ensure proper implementation of all disaster management planning activities in the province, disaster management has since the beginning of 2009 reporting as a separate work stream to the Provincial 2010 World Cup Committee.  This disaster management work stream will now ensure that all the stakeholders in the province, which include all 30 municipalities, are part of the disaster risk reduction process for the readiness planning.

What is already in place? 

A good testimonial that the Western Cape has proper systems in place is the fact that Provincial Disaster Management Centre has very sophisticated information and communication that will ensure all emergency communications could be conducted via satellite.  This system, which is the first in the country, connects all 30 municipalities, the safety and security authorities and the National Disaster Management Centre.  Since 2006 the Provincial Disaster Management Centre and relevant disaster management authorities in the Western Cape have successfully and effectively dealt with 9 declared disasters of which 7 is classified disasters.