Bridgetown, 杏吧性吧, October 6th, 2015 (CDEMA) 鈥� The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) deployed three Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment Teams (RNATs) in response to a request from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Bahamas following the passage of Hurricane Joaquin. The RNATs were deployed Monday, October 5th 2015 to support the efforts of NEMA. In support of regional efforts, the Government of the United Kingdom has deployed the RFA Lyme Bay, one of the most experienced logistical supply ships in the world, to provide assistance in the form of support to damage assessment and distribution of relief supplies.
Relief supplies were sourced through the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, Jamaica (the North Western Sub-Regional Disaster Emergency Response Operational Unit of the CDEMA System). The Prime Minister of The Bahamas visited the RFA Lyme Bay today October 6, 2015 to be briefed on the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operation.
The three CDEMA Coordinating Unit led teams have been deployed to Long Island, Crooked Island and Acklins Island to carry out assessments of Damage to Critical Infrastructure and Housing, Water, Sanitation and Health, Telecommunications and coastal ecosystems for a period of two days. During this period the teams will also be providing general disaster relief response and support and final reports will make recommendations to the Government of Bahamas regarding the priority needs to response actions.
CDEMA Executive Director Ronald Jackson commented 鈥淩eports from the RNAT will initiate high level discussions between CDEMA and the government of the Bahamas and support the identification of additional aid required鈥�.
Monday morning the RFA Lyme Bay arrived with supplies consisting of temporary roofing materials, water and food for Crooked Islands, Acklins Island and Long Island. The first batch of relief stores landed into Crooked Island, with some stores being distributed to isolated persons on Long Cay. The RFA Lyme Bay Helicopter Lynx Mark has evacuated 36 persons from Landrail Point to the main airport for onward movement to Nassau. This mobility procedure included 4 disabled persons, with one in a wheelchair.
At this time the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) is working ashore on clearing the area and assisting in damage repair. Tomorrow, operations will continue off Long Cay and Acklins Island.
CARIBBEAN DISASTER EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
Resilience Way, Lower Estate
St. Michael
BARBADOS
Tel #: (246) 434-4880
Fax #: (246) 271-3660