The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Emergency Management Agency Director Captain Stephen Russell yesterday said the agency is all set to begin its repair and construction phase for the six islands devastated by Hurricane Joaquin today.

Captain Russell said he expects repairs to be conducted “simultaneously” throughout the six main islands that sustained damage from the category four storm – Long Island, Crooked Island, Acklins, San Salvador, Rum Cay, and Long Cay.

He said over the weekend more materials were shipped out to the various islands, with officials conducting cross checks to

“ensure all of our containers, supplies, equipment got to their destinations and that they have been received, they have been stored and catalogued.”

Once that process is complete, Capt Russell said officials will “begin distributing in accordance with how persons would have been assessed for the items that they would have needed to repair their homes.”

Last Wednesday, Capt Russell stated that NEMA had shifted from its delivery and distribution of relief supplies towards its “repair and construction” phase, which he said would commence on November 2. This, he said at the time, involved the formation of repair and construction teams throughout the various affected islands to aid in rebuilding efforts.

However, he noted that the distribution of relief supplies will continue “as long as necessary.”

When contacted yesterday to determine if NEMA was still on schedule to honour its November 2 deadline, Captain Russell said: “That’s our intended plan, to ensure that things start (Monday).”

“Once materials have been shipped to the six main islands and we have the teams from the six islands from those communities, we expect repairs to occur simultaneously on the six main islands,” he added. “We are making an assessment, materials have been shipped out this weekend and we hope, we’re doing a cross check now to ensure all of our containers, supplies, equipment got to their destinations and that they have been received, they have been stored and catalogued, and eventually the teams that are there will begin distributing in accordance with how persons would have been assessed for the items that they would have needed to repair their homes.

“And we hope by the end of the day to see where we are to see if there are any hiccups, any blockages in the process thus far.”

Last week, State Minister for Finance Michael Halkitis said the damage caused by Hurricane Joaquin is now pegged at $80 million. The government originally estimated the damage to be at around $60m, but Prime Minister Perry Christie said that figure was likely to increase as the Ministry of Finance continues to receive additional assessments.