When calamity strikes, swift and strategic action can save countless lives. The Disaster Response Services section details the specialized services available in the Western Hemisphere to address various disaster scenarios. From rapid response teams to logistical support units, this segment provides a comprehensive overview of the tools and talents at our collective disposal.
The CNE has 6 trucks and 58 vehicles, mostly 4×4.
* Note: The CNE is the governing body of the SNGR. In emergency situations, the response is provided with a systemic approach, combining the capabilities of the member institutions according to their respective competencies. This note is crucial and applies to all subsequent questions.
The CNE maintains a communication network that covers 97% of the national territory, where general monitoring of the country is conducted three times a day under normal conditions (06:00, 12:00, 18:00), and even more frequently in extraordinary cases. Additionally, specific surveillance is carried out in various river basins such as Sarapiquí, Zapotal, as well as monitoring for tsunamis, climate, seismology, volcanology, and coastal/marine erosion. The information is available online.
The CNE utilizes its own tools, including those from the National Meteorological Institute (IMN), such as its radar and satellite information. Additionally, the CNE has automated stations, rain gauges, temperature sensors, pressure sensors, and wind sensors.
In the field of communication:
From the perspective of public communication, there are coordination protocols between the CNE, as the national institution responsible for coordination and direction, and the scientific organizations that define the communication guidelines to be followed.
Procedures exist for summoning the media to report on the alerts issued by the CNE as the governing body of the SNGR, and these media outlets, in turn, communicate with the general population.
The country has a well-established process of institutional, regional, municipal, and communal organization to which alerts are issued, along with provisions for activation.
This is complemented by notices and bulletins from the National Meteorological Institute.
The information is made available on social media and on the CNE’s website.
In the field of information:
Technology is used for information storage, both internally and on external information platforms.
Internally at the CNE, there is a nationwide organization (communal, municipal, and regional) that enables the exchange and distribution of information generated in the field, as well as information acquired through technology (satellite images, databases, mapping, and, in general, geographical information systems).
Externally, the CNE’s information primarily comes from the “shape files” of natural hazards found in the National Territorial Information System (SNIT), which is coordinated by the National Geographic Institute. All state institutions with relevant information must deposit their data in this platform for use by any SNIT user (snitcr.go.cr).
As technological tools for field data collection, drones, high-precision GPS, satellite imagery (access to satellite images through agreements with organizations), and geographical information tools such as ArcGIS, ArcGIS Pro, and QGIS are used. These tools allow for the creation of dashboards that distribute information for interpretation, analysis, and decision-making.
There is also an IT platform for managing incidents recorded in the 911 system. Currently, a decision-maker information system for COEs in emergency preparedness and response is in development. This system will allow for the recording, processing, and data output related to situation reports generated by Municipal Emergency Committees (CME) during emergency response.
The country has a National Risk Management System (SNGR) composed of various government entities and technical-scientific organizations that engage in research, monitoring, and warning activities for highly specialized events such as seismic activity, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, volcanic erosion, climate behavior, and river monitoring. The CNE, through its Municipal Emergency Committees and its technical team, conducts monitoring and evaluation of landslides.
As mentioned previously, we have SATs (Sistema de Alerta Temprana or Early Warning System) for constant monitoring of threats or points of interest identified by the CNE due to potential hazards.
The CNE also possesses natural hazard maps at scales of 1:50,000 and 1:25,000, as well as “Lidar” information that enables detailed analysis of specific areas with high vulnerability.
Costa Rica has a National Communication Network that integrates the communication centers of all response institutions nationwide. This network, coordinated by the CNE, links various member institutions of the National Risk Management System (SNGR), as well as regional and municipal emergency committees, observation and surveillance posts throughout the country to facilitate the exchange of information for decision-making during emergencies or alerts.
The public service companies responsible for critical infrastructure are in the process of implementing it. There is a technical standard that provides guidance on how to develop it. Progress is gradual.
The structure for emergency response provided by Law #8488 establishes the formation of various coordination bodies, including the Community Emergency Committees, which are formed with the participation of representatives from civil society, community organizations, institutional representatives in the community, non-governmental organizations, and private companies. Their scope of action is at the district, town, or neighborhood level, and their organization, monitoring, and guidance are the responsibility of the Municipal Emergency Committees, with the supervision of the Liaison Officer (an official from the CNE) and training by the Training and Education department.
There are technical standards, guides, manuals for risk assessment in infrastructure, and various risk assessment studies for populations. Our country’s construction standards and regulations related to public investment make this possible.
For example:
Law #8488 establishes, in its article #5, that the National Policy for Risk Management constitutes a cross-cutting axis of the work of the Costa Rican State. It articulates instruments, programs, and public resources for ordinary and extraordinary, institutional, and sectoral actions aimed at preventing disasters and responding to emergencies in all their phases. Any development policy of the country must incorporate the necessary elements for proper risk assessment and susceptibility to disaster impact, as well as the management axes for its control.
For the implementation of the National Risk Management Policy, the Commission is obligated to design and execute the National Risk Management Plan as a strategic planning instrument. This plan allows for the systemic and comprehensive coordination of programs within the subsystems. It also delineates institutional competencies, resource allocation, organization, verification, and control mechanisms.
– National Policy for Risk Management for the period 2016 – 2030
– National Risk Management Plans for five-year periods. The current plan in effect is for the period 2021 – 2025.
Costa Rica has a “Monitoring and Tracking System” in place to assess the progress of strategic actions outlined in the National Risk Management Plan. This mechanism monitors progress through a self-assessment process using an online consultation method through the virtual platform called the “Monitoring and Tracking System.” This system was developed by the Strategic Development Unit of the National Risk Management System (DESNGR) under the direction of the Risk Management Department of the CNE. It relies on input provided by institutional liaisons assigned by the organizations with established goals and objectives within the plan.
Costa Rica is a part of the Coordination Center for the Prevention of Disasters in Central America and the Dominican Republic (CEPREDENAC), which is a specialized organization in disaster risk management within the framework of the Central American Integration System (SICA). According to Article 7 of the Constitutive Agreement of CEPREDENAC, ratified by Costa Rica through Law No. 8588, the head of the National Commission for Risk Prevention and Emergency Response (CNE) and their Alternate Representative are responsible for representing the Republic of Costa Rica in the Council of Representatives of CEPREDENAC, which is the highest decision-making body of the Center.
The Constitutive Agreement of CEPREDENAC states that “The general objective of CEPREDENAC is to contribute to the reduction of vulnerability and the impact of disasters as an integral part of the transformation and sustainable development process in the region, within the framework of the Central American Integration System (SICA). This is achieved by promoting, supporting, and developing policies and measures for prevention, mitigation, preparedness, and emergency management.”
To advance toward achieving this objective, the Central American countries, in accordance with the Panamanian Declaration adopted during the XXXV Ordinary Meeting of Heads of State and Government of the SICA member countries on June 30, 2010, approved the Central American Policy on Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management (PCGIR). Section “E” of this policy mandates the consolidation of the Regional Humanitarian Assistance Mechanism for Disasters within the Central American Regional System (MecReg-SICA). This aims to make the processes of customs and immigration procedures more agile when a neighboring country provides humanitarian assistance during emergencies in the region.
In line with this mandate, Central American countries have been gradually updating their national procedures for the reception, transit, and dispatch of international humanitarian assistance. In this effort, the Central American Procedure for Facilitating the Land Transit of Relief Shipments was approved in 2017. The objective of this procedure is to facilitate, harmonize, and simplify the land transit of goods under the relief shipment modality to meet urgent needs for initial recovery and the survival of affected populations in the event of a disaster, emergency, or public calamity in one or more Member States of the Central American region.
In accordance with the National Law on Emergencies and Risk Prevention (No. 8488), the National Risk Management System (SNGR) is led by the National Commission for Risk Prevention and Emergency Response (CNE) and includes the following coordination bodies:
