Page 6 - CE_Industral_Journal_2015

Figure 3 showing: (a) the regional belt (in dark blue) of major hurricanes 1851 to 2004 within the Caribbean. hurricane belt
estimated using a 100-km buffer; & (b) disaster occurrences by type for the period 1994-2013
Source (3a): http://www.mapcruzin.com/natural-disaster-shapefiles/hurricane-arcgis-shapefile-download.htm
Source (3b): http://www.cred.be/publications

thE CARIbbEAn ELECtRICIty IndUStRy’S annual Atlantic Hurricane Season begins on June 1, and
VULnERAbILIty to nAtURAL dISAStERS runs until November 30.
Natural Disasters are Presenting Greater Risks for most of
the Caribbean Electric Utilities. Electric grid operations and Natural disaster occurrences in the Caribbean archipelago
infrastructure in the Caribbean region are vulnerable to a have, over the years, severely tested the resilience
variety of natural disasters. The vulnerability of Caribbean and exacerbated the vulnerability of the electric power
electric utilities to natural disasters has had serious network, constrained the ability of member electric utilities
implications for regional energy security and supply. to provide reliable power to their customers, and resulted
Indeed, coping with annually recurring natural disasters, in costly damages to the regional electricity infrastructure
especially tropical storms and hurricanes, is already a (Figure 4) which necessitated the diversion of scarce
fact of life for most of the CARILEC Member utilities. The resources into repairs and replacements of critical assets.

Figure 4 showing some damages to the regional electricity
infrastructure from tropical storms and hurricanes.
industry Journal 4