Volcanic eruptions are also hazards in at least two of the islands of the group.
Many houses, generally owned or occupied by the poor, are also sited in gullies or in flood plains and are especially vulnerable to floods caused by high rainfall resulting from the frequent tropical depressions and hurricanes. The Governments of the OECS member states have recognized that the damage caused by these extreme natural events affect all sections of society, and have placed emphasis on the development of building standards which would prevent or mitigate the damage so caused. The Building Guidelines are to be used for the design and construction of simple residential buildings of less than 3,000 square feet in gross area. Designers and constructors of buildings outside the scope of the Guidelines must consult the Building Code for the relevant design and construction requirements. This document is a compilation of the diagrams in the Building Guidelines.