The Tribune

THE National Emergency Management Agency received more than $800,000 worth of floodwater rescue equipment to increase it preparedness capacity in the event the country is faced with a disaster.

The official handover ceremony was held Tuesday at the Royal Bahamas Defence Force Coral Harbour Base. Present were Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Public Works and Urban Development Renward Wells, Director of NEMA Captain Stephen Russell, Commander of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force Commodore Roderick Bowe, United States Chargé d’Affaires John Dinkelman, and Major General Mahon, of the US Northern Command.

It was the third and final phase of a United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM)-funded training programme held on New Providence, Grand Bahama and Abaco, during which about 40 participants received extensive flood water/rope rescue training.

Captain Russell, Director of NEMA, said the agency and the country as a whole are pleased to benefit from the United States’ help through its Humanitarian Assistance Programme.

“The tragic reminder of air mishaps, which have occurred over the years, have prompted the National Emergency Management Agency to seek ways in which we can better our response capabilities,” he said.

“A request for assistance in regards to responding to air mishaps or similar disasters in our lakes, swamps or seas was received with favourable response by the United States Northern Command and Public Health Services.”

Captain Russell said NEMA would continue to seek out innovative ways to ensure that the Bahamas remains in a position to respond to disasters of any kind.

Parliamentary Secretary Mr Wells said the government was extremely pleased to accept the training and equipment donated by USNORTHCOM.

“The Bahamas’ National Emergency Management Agency has played and integral role in this programme, as they have seen it fit to identify three of our most trafficked airports, where the likelihood of an air mishap may occur, due to any unforeseen circumstances,” Mr Wells said.

Over the years, several air mishaps in New Providence happened over or near Lake Killarney.

Mr Wells noted that many of the airstrips in the Bahamas are either near a lake, the sea or swamp lands.

“While the responses from the various agencies have over the years been great, there are always lessons to be learned and more effective and innovative ways to further enhance our emergency response capabilities. Additionally, this particular training also gives rescue teams the ability to assist with urban search and rescue, flooding or boating incidents near the coast,” Mr Wells said.

The rescue teams received training in the following areas: site survey and risk analysis, self-rescue and personal safety skills, swimming, understanding flood hydrology, developing search parameters and procedures, conducting shore-based rescue operations, boat-assisted and boat rescue operations, and other related skills.

The donated equipment consists of a 16ft aluminium War Eagle boat with a trailer, a Honda boat engine, personal flotation devices, helmets, Carlson River boards, litters and rescue ropes.

Agencies that participated in the programme include: the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, Royal Bahamas Police Force, BASRA, Airport Authority Crash and Fire Rescue, Grand Bahama Port Department, Emergency Medical Services, Department of Environmental Health, Bahamas Red Cross and Marsh Harbour Volunteer Fire Fighters.