Disasters in Guyana

Guyana faces coastal, riverine, rainfall-induced, flash and tidal flooding. Flooding can become more severe when heavy rain combines with river overflow, high tides, sea swell, blocked drains, pump failure or breaches in sea defences and conservancies. Around 90% of the population lives in approximately 15,000 square kilometres of low coastal land along a coastline of about 459 kilometres, and large areas lie below sea level. The 2005 national flood and the 2021 floods affecting both coastal and hinterland areas show the scale of this risk. Hinterland communities, including parts of Region 9 and the Rupununi, also face river access, water, fire and communications challenges. Drought is especially relevant to water supplies and agriculture in the hinterland and Rupununi. Dry-season wildfires and smoke, high winds, lightning and thunderstorms create additional risks without changing the primary focus from disaster management to adjacent health or environmental topics. The Civil Defence Commission, established in 1982 and operating continuously, leads national disaster management coordination across Guyana's 10 administrative regions. Its work includes preparedness, public warnings, emergency operations, field assessments, relief and recovery. Regional Democratic Councils and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils, together with Village Leaders or Toshaos, pass information to communities and help coordinate local action. Volunteer Corps, Community-Based Disaster Risk Management and Volunteer Emergency Response Teams provide additional local capacity. Guyana also works through the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, or CDEMA, for regional disaster coordination. The Hydrometeorological Service, often called Hydromet, is the national authority for meteorological alerts. It issues forecasts, severe-weather advisories, tide and sea-condition information, seasonal outlooks and drought bulletins using tools such as radar, maps, automatic weather stations and satellite information. The CDC publishes advisories and emergency operations updates. Regional and village authorities may relay warnings locally, but no verified nationwide siren or single public evacuation platform covers every area. Official alerts should therefore be checked through several available channels, especially where electricity, mobile service, roads or river transport are unreliable. Preparedness uses the CDC National Integrated Disaster Risk Management Plan, regional multi-hazard plans, emergency shelter standards and local community arrangements. Flood preparation includes monitoring drains, canals, culverts, sluices, kokers, pumps, seawalls and conservancies where they affect access or water levels. The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, or NDIA, is the highest public authority for drainage, irrigation and flood-control infrastructure in declared areas. More than 150 sluice gates operate in the drainage system, and gravity drainage often works only when the tide is low. Tide lock, blocked drains, pump or maintenance failures and damaged sea defences can therefore prolong flooding. Drought preparation includes conserving water and adjusting irrigation. During dry conditions, open burning of rice fields, farmland, vegetation or waste should be avoided in line with environmental and fire-safety requirements. During an emergency, the CDC can activate an Emergency Operations Centre and deploy field teams for impact assessment. The Guyana Defence Force and NDIA may support reconnaissance, drainage and logistics, while the Guyana Fire and Rescue Service provides fire response, rescue and emergency medical services. Police can be reached at 911 and Guyana Fire and Rescue Service fire, rescue and emergency medical services at 912. CDC/National Emergency Management System contacts listed in the research material include +592 600-7500, +592 226-1027, +592 623-1700 and +592 678-9989. A 2024 booklet lists 913 for emergency medical technicians, which conflicts with the 912 fire, rescue and EMS listing; verify the number in the current official notice or with the CDC when possible. Emergency shelters are activated for particular events by the CDC and local authorities rather than guaranteed as a permanent placement for every affected household. Access may be arranged through a Regional Democratic Council, Neighbourhood Democratic Council, Village Leader, Toshao or the CDC. In the 2024 Timehri wildfire response, five families comprising 28 people were relocated. Published shelter standards include at least 3.5 square metres per person, 20 litres of water per person per day in a shelter or camp, 30 litres per person per day in a feeding centre, one toilet for every 25 women, one toilet and urinal for every 35 men, one washbasin for every 10 people and one shower for every 30 people. Government and CDC assistance is generally based on assessed impact and available logistics. It can include food, water, cleaning and sanitation hampers, bedding, household items, building materials and support for affected crops or livestock. A household, farm or livestock impact report helps authorities assess needs. No published nationwide automatic cash benefit or general disaster-compensation entitlement was verified, and response timing depends on the event, assessment, transport access and available resources. Recovery can include cleanup, sanitation, repair materials and restoration of drainage, pumps, sluices, sea defences and river defences. The CDC uses a build-back-better approach. The 2024 Climate Resilience and Adaptation Project had a stated value of US$45 million and targeted more than 45 drainage assets and approximately 320,000 people, or about 40% of the population; these are project targets, not proof that every work has been completed. People affected by an emergency should follow official instructions, report damage and losses through local authorities or the CDC, and keep records of household, crop and livestock impacts.