
Large doors installed at the SEEP Emergency Operations Centre in Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera offers protection and allow the building to serve as a community centre and hurricane shelter. (photo by Azaleta Ishmael-Newry)
|
Tarpum
Bay, Eleuthera -- South Eleuthera Emergency Partners, better known as SEEP
recently added six large custom-made roll up doors to its Emergency Operations
Centre (EOC) thanks to a generous grant from the Lyford Cay Foundation. The doors, approximately 11 feet high
and 12 feet wide opened up new opportunities for the non-profit organization
that operates the volunteer fire department and ambulance services for Southern
Eleuthera.
The
doors are of enormous importance because not only do they bring the Centre to
an 80% completion, they also add a whole new dimension and meaning to the
versatility of the EOC, opening new opportunities for the non-profit and the
community at large.

Workers install one of the 11 foot x 12-foot doors at the EOC in Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera. The 4-week project helped employ 6 persons. (photo by Shaun Ingraham)
|
For
the community, the installation of the doors created employment for 6 people in
the depressed Eleuthera economy over a 4-week period and it also added profit
to some of the local businesses. For SEEP, other exciting activities at the
Centre are being realized, positively impacting the non-profit and the
residents.
With
a more secured building, the ambulance, fire truck, a recently donated jaws of
life, an additional water pump and other fire fighting gear are now properly
stored, ensuring a longer life span. “The doors not only protect the vehicles and emergency
equipment from the wear and tear caused by the sun and salt air,” said director
Shaun Ingraham, “But they bring the building closer in line to an all purpose
community centre and offers shelter during times of emergencies like a
hurricane.”

Director Shaun Ingraham at left and Volunteer Ricardo Edwards review parts for the door (photo by Azaleta Ishmael-Newry)
|
Sourced
and provided by a local hardware store, these industrial doors are made of aluminum
and can withstand high winds and are built for low maintenance, safety and long
lasting dependability and they also provide a weather-tight seal.
When
a function is held at the Emergency Operations Center, there is the flexibility
to have all 6 doors open or the choice of keeping some of the doors open and others
closed. The EOC has become a big
hit with the locals with the most recent partnerships with the Island School
/Cape Eleuthera Institute, local farmers and artisans who host a Farmer’s Market
at the end of each month. “This has been a great success,” said Ingraham “as we
are now able to set up the market the night before because the doors are added
security and also the people and their products are protected from wind, sun
and rain.”

The EOC facilitated the first Farmers’ Market in South Eleuthera in an open environment since doors were not installed at the time. (Photo by Shaun Ingraham)
|
Another
new partnership involves a “12 Weeks to Wellness Program” headed by the Seventh
Day Adventist Church. Each
evening during the week more than 50 people from Governor’s Harbour to Rock
Sound (a forty mile range) travel to the EOC to exercise and learn how to live
healthy lifestyles.
Shaun
and his board of directors are grateful for the partnerships and support from
key players like the Lyford Cay Foundation and for their volunteers who help in
all areas of the operations. Ingraham pointed out that the emergency services
volunteers put their lives on the line to passionately serve the various
communities and have responded to vehicular accidents, illnesses, fire and
flooding emergencies.
The
Emergency Operations Centre has come a long way since it started laying the
foundation just over 2 years ago. In March 2009, SEEP proudly partnered with
the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Ministry of Health to broaden their work
and garner more support when they dedicated their fire truck and ambulance.
Officials at the ceremony included the Minister of Health, Hon. Hubert A.
Minnis, MP, Minister of National Security, Hon. Orville (Tommy) Turnquest, MP,
Hon. Oswald Ingraham, MP, South Eleuthera and Commissioner Greenslade.

The second Farmers’ Market was held at the end of January at the SEEP EOC. The newly installed doors are in the background and provide a backdrop at the “Lion Fish” demonstration table. (Photo by Shaun Ingraham)
|
To
mark another milestone, SEEP will host an Open House and Dedication set for
March 14th, 2010 at 2 pm and the celebrations will include local
residents and a group of 70 Island Journeys volunteers from Clemson University,
North Carolina.
The
EOC’s immediate goals include the completion of the offices, kitchen, storage
facilities and a water cistern. South Eleuthera Emergency Partners (SEEP) is a
non-profit organization that relies solely on donations from individuals,
grants, corporations, fundraisers as well as from the local and winter residents. SEEP welcomes your support. You may
contact
shaundonavon@yahoo.com for
more information or visit www.southeleutheraep.org