Danger After Disaster: Why Emergencies Heighten Risks for Women
In the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl's devastating impact on the Caribbean in July 2024, emergency shelters provided critical refuge from the storm's fury, yet they offered no guarantee of safety for women and girls. This stark reality underscores a pervasive issue in disaster management, where gendered vulnerabilities are often exacerbated rather than alleviated.
A Shelter's Struggle: Union Island's Harrowing Tale
On Union Island in St Vincent and the Grenadines, Tedica Alexander, 61, recalls the terrifying experience at the Ashton community centre, which her grandchildren nicknamed "Final Destination" after a favourite film. Advised to seek shelter there instead of the closer Clifton school, Alexander arrived early, only to witness the building's windows shatter and floodwaters rise above ankle height as the hurricane intensified. "If it had lasted one more minute, the door would have given way," she says, her voice trembling with emotion.
Her nine grandchildren bravely fought against the wind and rain to let latecomers in, while Alexander found solace in her six-year-old granddaughter's whispered words of comfort. Ultimately, 47 children and 147 adults, including three wheelchair users, crowded into the shelter, united in prayer. This marked the beginning of Alexander's extended stay, during which she voluntarily took on cooking duties and oversaw the site's management, supported by other residents.
The Caretaker's Burden: Women's Increased Vulnerability
Alexander's role as a caretaker is emblematic of the disproportionate burdens women often shoulder during natural disasters. Studies consistently show that these responsibilities can make the experience more difficult, as women frequently fend not only for themselves but for others, including children, the elderly, and the sick. In 2022, UN Women reported that pre-existing social and cultural demands exacerbate women's vulnerability, with gendered roles and social inequities making them more likely to be killed in disasters.
Moreover, emergency shelters, while offering haven from the elements, provide little security against gender-based violence. A 2021 systematic review published in BMJ Global Health found that post-disaster environments often heighten risks, citing examples from Haiti, Japan, and Nepal where lack of doors, walls, and locks in displacement camps increased violence against women and girls. The review also highlighted failures by law enforcement in enabling such violence within shelters.
Regional Efforts and Persistent Challenges
In response, initiatives like the UN Development Programme's "Enabling Gender-Responsive Disaster Recovery, Climate and Environmental Resilience in the Caribbean" project have focused on embedding gender equality and human rights into climate resilience across nine Caribbean countries. Recommendations include broader regional scaling, sustained technical and financial support, and stronger knowledge-sharing systems.
Loyce Pace, Americas regional director for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, emphasizes the organization's work to address these challenges through manuals and advocacy. "In emergencies in general, we find that women and children are particularly vulnerable," she says, noting they are often left behind or exposed to worse conditions. While Pace believes the Caribbean has attained acceptable standards in shelter provisions, she stresses the need for constant training and reminders for volunteers to maintain safety standards, including private sleeping quarters, bathroom facilities, and menstrual hygiene products.
Infrastructure Gaps and Recovery Hurdles
Aarone Sargent, managing director of the Disaster Risk Management Authority in the Bahamas, acknowledges efforts to ensure shelters are safe and comfortable, with safety under the purview of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and social services. However, a pressing concern is capacity: the country currently has shelter accommodation for only 3% of its population. During Hurricane Melissa in 2023, about 1,800 people were evacuated to New Providence, accommodated in six or seven shelters, while others relied on family or hotels.
Sargent notes that many shelters are decades old, not built with access for vulnerable populations or gender challenges in mind, and infrastructure for people with disabilities remains "a work in progress." Future plans aim to build 10 to 15 shelters to house about 20% of the population over the next five to 10 years.
The Lingering Trauma of Recovery
For women like Tedica Alexander, the recovery phase proves especially challenging. Pace points out that vulnerable populations often struggle to secure loans or feel safe as business owners post-disaster, particularly single women. Alexander's home and livelihood were destroyed by Hurricane Beryl, leaving her without electricity or water. "When I left Ashton and came to see my home, my head and feet started to shake," she says. "Only recently, I stopped feeling like the floor was shaking."
This personal account highlights the enduring emotional and practical hardships faced by women long after the immediate danger has passed, underscoring the urgent need for more inclusive and resilient disaster response frameworks across the Caribbean and beyond.
