Caribbean Disaster Information Network

Mission

Established in 1999, the Caribbean Disaster Information Network (CARDIN) is a network of institutions across the Caribbean whose purpose is to strengthen the capacity of the Caribbean community to collect, archive, and disseminate data related to disaster preparedness planning. Based in the library system of the University of the West Indies, the programme was initiated in an effort to create a sub-regional centre for disaster-related information. By working to develop a comprehensive database in four languages (English, French, Spanish, and Dutch), CARDIN hopes to improve access on the part of the following groups to disaster-related information: government agencies, statisticians, policy makers, researchers, the general public, and students.

Main Communication Strategies
The network includes regional nodes, national nodes, coordinating units, and collaborating agencies. An advisory committee to the project is comprised of representatives of various local and national organisations. The Library of the University of the West Indies at Mona serves as the focal point for network activities. For example, it provides access to an existing computer system - 15 computers - as well as a server to host the network and an industrial scanner. Computers and printers have been supplied to partners to ensure that each has the minimum software and hardware needed to access the network.

The CARDIN site is a key network tool. As of June, 2000, there were over 2000 records in the disaster database; these records were collected various libraries and organisations participating in the network. In addition, CARDIN publishes a quarterly newsletter and various publications on disaster preparedness (such as a bibliography, a manual, and reports), many of which are available for download on the site.

CARDIN hosts seminars in order to create awareness of the facility and to alert the public how to use and access disaster information, to prevent or alleviate further destruction of the environment, and to prepare for disaster-related emergencies. In addition, training courses are run for the organisations that provide the data. These sessions are meant to help participants from schools and institutions develop the capacity to access disaster information, as well as to gain a broad understanding of the Internet.