Hurricane shelter shortage exposed

The aftermath of Hurricane Dorian on Abaco. (Sjoerd Hilckmann/Dutch Defense Ministry via AP)

As of Monday, May 4, 2020

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Senior Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE International Organisation for Migration has warned The Bahamas is not ready for the 2020 hurricane season.

The organisation recently completed a comprehensive assessment of official and unofficial emergency shelters in Abaco and Grand Bahama and found that most of them are unusable.

Emergency shelter capacity is one major weakness, the IOM says, having recruited emergency shelter experts Ned Morris and Richard Lines to perform the assessment with a focus on structural readiness, well-equipped shelter managers and availability of clean fresh water.

“For the 2020 hurricane season there is very limited emergency shelter capacity available on both islands,” Mr Morris said. “Our assessment found that currently 13 of the 25 official shelters are usable, providing a capacity for just over 1,500 people, or two percent of the population of Abaco and Grand Bahama. Many of the shelters on both islands are built in vulnerable locations. When Dorian passed through, they were unprotected for the floods and winds and therefore heavily compromised.”

The experts recommend prioritising repairs of existing gyms on Grand Bahama and the repair of Central Abaco Primary School because they have the largest shelter capacity.

The report also recommends that the country quickly devise a “credible mass evacuation plan for the Family Islands” while adequately equipping the central NEMA warehouse in Freeport and Abaco shelters with generators, water tanks, first aid kits, medical supplies and bedding.

Additionally, more than 100 emergency shelter managers should be trained, the IOM said.

Captain Stephen Russell, head of the National Emergency Management Agency, said yesterday the Ministry of Disaster Preparedness, Management and Reconstruction, NEMA and the Disaster Reconstruction Authority will review the report and provide a response in a joint statement showing the plan of action to deal with shelters and other preparation matters.

The Atlantic hurricane season begins on June 1 and ends November 30.

Well_mudda_take_sic 4 years, 7 months ago

This fringe international organization is a little late with their report which urges quick action to ensure protection from hurricanes is available for our illegal aliens. Their efforts would be better served if they found for our government the funds necessary to do all that they have recommended. Perhaps the IOM itself could see fit to make a much needed donation to our country to assist us in preparing as best we can, with what little resources we now have, for the upcoming hurricane season.

ISpeakFacts 4 years, 7 months ago

Well said mudda, not to mention the experts have already said that the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane season will be above normal, which means chances are we will encounter another devastation like Dorian, 70+ bodies are still locked up in a trailer behind the Marsh Harbor clinic, I fear we will have a repeat of Dorian due to our elected official's gross incompetence and lack of preparedness and leadership when it comes to natural disasters!!!

Grand Bahama still doesn't even have a proper hospital, people in Abaco still don't have homes, this country is FINISHED!!! You'd have a better chance in Haiti than under the incompetent and nasty Hubert Minnis-led FNM government!!!

IOMBahamas 4 years, 7 months ago

Thanks you for you comments. IOM started the preparations of the assessment January and conducted the fieldwork in February, but of course it is never early enough. In all fairness, especially after a major disaster, it will take considerable time and money to get fully prepared. Therefore it is important to set priorities and create awareness among everyone at risk. IOM is using the study and report to raise additional funds in support of the Government of The Bahamas, we are seeking for ideas where COVID-19 support is combined with Disaster Preparedness.

joeblow 4 years, 7 months ago

The government has been playing games since Dorian, spending money on everything but preparation for the next hurricane season that is upon us.

They spent $6 million on domes for Abaco, $5 million for CCTV cameras, $9 million for a bridge in Andros, $17 million on drones, not to mention the recent promotions of police and nothing for hurricane preparedness and there are still those who think Minnis has done a good job managing crises! Amazing how gullible Bahamians are!