The Regional Disaster Information Center (CRID for its Spanish acronym) is an initiative sponsored by six organizations that decided to join efforts to ensure the compilation and dissemination of disaster-related information in Latin America and the Caribbean.

These organizations are:

• Pan American Health Organization - Regional Office of the World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO).

• International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR/EIRD).

• Costa Rica National Risk Prevention and Emergency Commission (CNE).

• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

• Coordination Center for Natural Disaster Prevention in Central America (CEPREDENAC).

• Regional Office of Doctors Without Borders (MSF).

   

Background: the DDC

In 1990, the Pan American Health Organization established the Disaster Documentation Center (DDC) in San José, Costa Rica. Its purpose was to facilitate access to technical documentation on disasters to professionals in Latin America and the Caribbean. The DDC is locate at the premises of the Costa Rica National Emergency Commission (now National Risk Prevention and Emergency Commission -CNE). The CNE provided space at no cost and covered some operating costs.

In 1994, the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR) became a sponsor of the DDC through its Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Secretariat. The DDC thus enlarged its projection to other sectors and disaster-related disciplines.

The Center focused its activities towards the achievement of two major objectives: compilation and analysis of existing documentation, and distribution -free of charge- of bibliographic and audiovisual material to professionals, public and private institutions, researchers, disaster-related organizations and agencies across the Latin America and the Caribbean Region.

During the "Regional Strategy for Disaster Information Meeting", hosted by the Costa Rica National Risk Prevention and Emergency Commission in February 1997, several organizations committed to the expansion of the DDC and established CRID as a co-ordination and inter sectoral collaborative platform for disaster information management.

CRID objectives

• Improve compilation, processing and dissemination of disaster-related information, offering quality information services to a wide range of users in the Latin America and the Caribbean Region.

• Strengthen sub regional (Central America, South America and the Caribbean), national and local capacities to establish and maintain disaster information and documentation centers.

• Promote the use of electronic technology for the provision of information services.

• Contribute to the development of the Regional Disaster Information System.

Mission

To promote the development of a prevention culture in the Latin American and Caribbean countries through the compilation and dissemination of disaster-related information, and the promotion of co-operative efforts to improve risk management in the Region.

Services and Products

• Technical support to a number of users in searching disaster information through traditional and electronic means.

• Publication and distribution of specialized bibliographies on disaster related issues.

• Internet access to a broad collection of documents and to other information sources.

• Technical advice and training on disaster information management to information centers.

• Elaboration, edition and distribution of training material.

• Massive distribution of public and technical information (bulletins, bibliographies, etc.).

• Organization of informative stands and participation in specific activities.

• Coordination with other institutions involved in the field of disaster information management.
  

• Prepare and manage projects intended to implement, strenghten and manage disaster information.

• Creation of specialized CD´s containing disaster related information such as bibliographies, full texts, websites on disasters and institutional contacts, among other.