The National Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Committee (NDPPC) proposal was submitted to the Federal Cabinet in November 1988. On January 20th 1989, the Disaster Office was established on St. Kitts under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Following the ravages of Hurricane Hugo in September 1989, the Nevis Disaster Management Office was established in January 1991 under the Ministry of Home Affairs with the late Llewellyn Newton as Director.
Legislation outlining the roles and functions of Disaster Management, (No. 5 of 1998) were passed following the devastation inflicted on St. Kitts and Nevis by Hurricanes Luis and Marilyn in 1995. This Act (No. 5 of 1998) provides for the effective management and control of disasters, related or incidental matters and Community mobilization through district committees. The name of the Nevis Disaster Management Office was modified in 2005 to reflect the Nevis Disaster Management Department (NDMD).
This department now falls under the purview of the Premiers’ Ministry in the Nevis Island Administration. It is responsible for preparedness, management, mitigation, coordination, control, recovery and rehabilitation in times of emergencies or disasters.