Country: Palau Source: Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance Please refer to the attached file. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Palau is exposed to hazards that have the potential to create a disaster that affects the entire population. Like many of its fellow Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs), Palau’s small population and economy mean the country has limited resources for expanding coping capacity. Thus, it has built strong bilateral and multilateral partnerships. This Disaster Management Reference Handbook offers Palau’s disaster management (DM) partners a resource for understanding both the potential for disasters in the country and the network of people and institutions ready to respond. Understanding the Risk Tropical cyclones and droughts are the most common hazard events that lead to declarations of states of emergency and appeals for international assistance. The entire country is exposed to both hazards, and vulnerabilities are high in both remote areas and areas of dense population. In the recent past, major cyclones and El Niño-correlated droughts have affected nearly the whole population either by damaging thousands of homes or undermining water and food security. Historic cyclones have caused damage and loss well above 5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Palau’s people are clustered mostly in shoreline communities. The high concentration of people in Koror tends to centralize both resources and risk since more people and more valuable assets can all be impacted by a single event. Less populous islands or remote areas of Babeldaob may experience overall fewer human casualties or property damage, but responding to events in these areas is more difficult logistically due to the country’s limited transportation network. Delayed responses can escalate losses as a percentage of the community’s people and assets. Any future increase in the frequency or severity of storms and droughts will also strain community resources. National and International Resources The National Disaster Risk Management Framework is the underlying conceptual document guiding all aspects of DM in Palau. It outlines institutional roles and responsibilities, describes chains of reporting and authority, and details standard operating procedures (SOP) for the National Emergency Operations Center. The lead agency is the National Emergency Management Office (NEMO). It provides advice to and administrative support for Palau’s political leaders, who sit on the Disaster Executive Council, and for the National Emergency Committee, which directs DM at the operational level. Moreover, NEMO provides critical national-level support for state and local responders. When a disaster happens, the NEMO Coordinator works across all levels of government and society. As with many PICTs, Palau’s local, national, and regional relationships are crucial components to address gaps in technical expertise, equipment, funding, or materials. Palau’s government works with United Nations (UN) entities, Pacific regional organizations, and other countries to deliver projects that identify hazards, reduce vulnerability, and enhance coping capacity among communities. This work relies on national organizations like the Palau Red Cross Society (PRCS) and on civil society. Palau’s bilateral partners are key DM stakeholders. Appeals for assistance in the wake of disasters have seen funding and supplies delivered by Australia, Japan, Taiwan, and the United States (U. S.). The Compact of Free Association (COFA) between Palau and the U. S. offers Palau resources, especially from technical and scientific agencies. The U. S. military presence is common but not permanent, and U. S. forces regularly participate in DMoriented training and exercises alongside Palauan responders and other DM practitioners from Australia, Japan, Taiwan, and international organizations.
Disaster Management Reference Handbook (August 2026) – Palau
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