Context

The Caribbean is one of the most disaster-prone regions in the world, frequently impacted by hurricanes, tropical storms, flooding, earthquakes, and other hazards. Effective disaster preparedness depends on access to accurate and up-to-date geospatial data on emergency resources such as shelters, evacuation routes, hazardous areas, and communication infrastructure. However, in many countries across the region, these datasets remain incomplete, outdated, or inaccessible to emergency responders and local authorities.

This lack of reliable geospatial data can significantly affect the ability of governments and disaster management agencies to prepare for and respond to emergencies. Without a clear understanding of where critical resources are located, or where gaps exist, decision-makers face challenges in planning evacuations, allocating resources, and coordinating response efforts during crises.

To address these challenges, the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT) and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) launched the Emergency Resources Mapping Project as part of a broader effort to strengthen regional disaster risk reduction and climate resilience through open geospatial data. The project was first piloted in Belize in 2024 and later expanded to Saint Kitts and Nevis, demonstrating how open mapping and community engagement can help close critical data gaps and support anticipatory action across Caribbean states.

Approach

The project combined participatory mapping, technical training, and institutional collaboration to produce open geospatial datasets that support disaster preparedness and climate resilience planning in Caribbean countries.

The initiative was first piloted in Belize, where HOT worked with the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) and CDEMA to train a cohort of youth volunteers in open mapping methodologies. Participants learned how to collect and validate geospatial data using OpenStreetMap (OSM) and the HOT Tasking Manager, combining remote mapping with field-based data collection to document critical emergency resources such as shelters, hazardous areas, and communication infrastructure. This pilot helped test the methodology and demonstrate how open mapping could support national disaster management workflows.

Building on the lessons from Belize, the approach was refined and implemented in Saint Kitts and Nevis in partnership with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Nevis Disaster Management Department (NDMD), and a local implementing partner, Prime Solutions. Through a combination of remote mapping, field verification, and stakeholder consultations, the project mapped priority emergency resources across both islands while ensuring that collected attributes aligned with national disaster preparedness needs.

Throughout the project, HOT provided technical guidance on data quality, mapping standards, and reporting processes. Final datasets were uploaded to OpenStreetMap and shared with regional and national stakeholders in open formats, enabling their integration into disaster preparedness planning, risk analysis, and emergency response coordination.

Outcome and Impact

The Emergency Resources Mapping Project produced open geospatial datasets that improve the availability and accessibility of critical information for disaster preparedness and response in participating countries.

In Belize, the pilot initiative trained over 30 volunteers to collect and map emergency resource data across several urban areas, including Belize City, Belmopan, San Ignacio, Santa Elena, and Corozal. These mapping activities generated open datasets that can support national disaster management planning and strengthened the capacity of the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) to integrate OpenStreetMap data into mitigation and preparedness efforts.

In Saint Kitts and Nevis, the project produced a comprehensive georeferenced database of emergency resources across priority areas on both islands, identifying key infrastructure such as shelters, communication facilities, and hazard-related locations. The resulting datasets were uploaded to OpenStreetMap and shared with national stakeholders, including CDEMA, NEMA, and NDMD, in open formats such as shapefiles, enabling their use in disaster preparedness planning, risk analysis, and emergency response coordination.

Beyond the creation of datasets, the project strengthened regional collaboration around open mapping and demonstrated how open geospatial data can support anticipatory action, climate resilience, and evidence-based decision-making in small island states.

Leassons Learned

The project demonstrated the importance of strong institutional partnerships between open mapping initiatives and national disaster management agencies. Collaboration with organizations such as CDEMA, NEMA, and NDMD ensured that the data collected responded directly to operational needs and could be integrated into existing disaster preparedness workflows.

Engaging local implementing partners with deep contextual knowledge also proved critical for successful implementation. In Saint Kitts and Nevis, the involvement of a team with experience working within government institutions facilitated stronger stakeholder engagement and improved understanding of national data gaps.

Future phases of the initiative could expand the model to additional Caribbean countries, strengthening regional disaster preparedness through open geospatial data. Continued training for government agencies, youth volunteers, and local communities will also be essential to ensure that open mapping tools are sustainably used to support disaster risk reduction and anticipatory action across the region.