The National Disaster Committee at its regular monthly meeting on Friday, August 28, 2015; during which representatives reported on their level of readiness ahead of the projected impact of Tropical Storm Erika. Chief Meteorological Officer Arnold King of the Bahamas Department of Meteorology giving an overview of the weather situation. (Photo/NEMA)

At 6pm Director of NEMA Captain Stephen Russell began to mobilize administrative staff and members of the 13 Emergency Support Function (ESF) groups, who would report to the NEOC, the hub of the monitoring systems and operations.

First Assistant Secretary Chrystal Glinton confirmed that the Family Island Administrators were contacted, to ensure that they met with their local disaster committees on their level of preparedness.

A core team from NEMA administrative staff will be stationed at the NEOC to monitor the system and ensure that proper procedures are followed, and to stay in constant contact with the Bahamas Department of Meteorology for further instructions.

On Friday, August 28, members of the National Disaster Committee met in its regular monthly meeting at NEMA's office,and to report on the level of readiness of their respective areas. A representative from the United States Embassy was also present to share some of the necessary steps taken to ensure the safety of American residents and visitors, and to assist NEMA, if needed.

At the meeting, the Bahamas Department of Meteorology issued an alert which stated that A Tropical Storm Warning remained in effect for the Turks and Calico Islands and the Central and Southeast Bahamas, which includes the islands of Long Island, Cat Island, The Exumas, San Salvador, Rum Cay, Inagua, Mayaguana, Acklins, Crooked Island, Long Cay and Ragged Island and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The yellow flag hoisted at NEMA, means a Level II Activation mode - that the situation has escalated into a real threat to the islands or areas in the projected path 48 hours out. (Photo/NEMA)

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions can possibly be experienced in those islands within the next 36 hours.

Also, a Tropical Storm Watched remained in effect for the islands of the Northwest Bahamas which includes Eleuthera, New Providence, Andros, Bimini, The Berry Islands, Grand Bahama and Abaco.

A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions can possibly be experienced in those islands within the next 48 hours.

NEMA follows Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), which provides instructions for activation and the operations of the NEOC, amongst other things. Level I deals with monitoring the system and its projected path, which is 60 hours out. Operations Officer will monitor the progress and keep the Director of NEMA informed. Also, a green flag would be hoisted outside NEMA's office to indicate this level.

Level II or partial activation, which NEMA implemented Thursday, means that the situation has escalated into a real threat to the islands or areas in the projected path 48 hours out. The situation escalates into a real threat such as storm warning, flash flood warning, etc. A yellow flag is hoisted to indicate this.

During this phase, a watch is issued which means that the storm is 48 hours or two days out. Residents are advised to take the necessary precautions - to protect themselves and their properties.

Level III will see an orange flag hoisted, which means emergency conditions exist for example, flash flooding or tornadoes. Also, the NEOC will be activated and utilize the necessary personnel.

And at Level IV, a red flag would be hoisted which means full activation. The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas will be advised to address the nation on the potential destruction the system would cause.

By this time, residents should be in a wait and see mode and should have already made all preparations for landfall. Such preparations include securing personal documents and seeking designated approved shelters in the event an evacuation order was previously issued. This means the system is 36 hours out.

The ESF groups are made up of personnel from essential services such as health, police force, defence force, water, electricity, communications, shelter management, and other related areas.