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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
HMBS Lawrence Major is prepared for its support role.
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HMBS Coral Harbour - With a flurry of swift, but calculated movements and a whirlwind of intentional activities, members of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) launched the entity’s Annual Hurricane Preparedness Exercise on Monday past. The exercise focuses on reviewing plans for disaster response in the event of an active hurricane season. This includes rehearsing and executing drills for various responses and checking all equipment and logistics to ensure they are in optimal working condition.
The undertaking is designed to help prepare RBDF members mentally for the start of this sometimes tough season. This year’s exercise comes with a bit more than a month to spare before the official start of the hurricane season which spans June 1st to November 30th every year.
“Persons are aware, for the most part, that if disaster strikes, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force will be on the scene regardless. What many people don’t know is what goes into this response and what it looks like,” says Lieutenant Commander Michael Saunders, Exercise Coordinator. The Public Relations Department of the RBDF shudders at this thought that this information is not available for all to note and hence this short series.
RBDF Marines perform a muster of all equipment required for Disaster Relief Operations
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Here’s an overview. In a totally non-selfish way, the RBDF takes care of itself first, ensuring that shutters are up and rope routes (areas that are cordoned off with large life lines and ropes for members to travel around Coral Harbour Base safely) are engaged. Families of Deployed or detached personnel are also identified and taken care of during this period. Members of the Force are advised to prepare their homes and have their family emergency plans in place by this time.
Since last week, a team of persons from the Royal Bahamas Defence Force in collaboration with the Department of Social Services, Ministry of Works and Ministry of Health have been assessing and determining the list of shelters that will be used this year. The responsibility of managing the various shelters within New Providence belongs to the Royal Bahamas Defence Force who promulgates a list of over 50 shelter managers very early each year. National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) provides some additional training and points to consider for selected shelter managers to further synchronization of efforts.
At this point the exercises are simulated, much like a table topic exercise or a walk through. A ‘what if’ session takes place and responses are brainstormed for each tangential scenario.
: The RBDF now has a deployable 17 - piece containerized Mobile Base Unit that doubles as medical, water and food relief centers to surrounding communities.
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Besides shelter managers, the RBDF also assigns advance teams of persons who will be immediately deployed to any islands projected by the Bahamas Meteorological Department to be hard-hit by any developing storm. These teams will take satellite phones and basic emergency equipment in their kit. They are the riders of the storm. Following the storm, an impact team, which was also selected during the early part of January, is assembled and deployed to help clear roads, harbours, as well as assist with returning communities to as close to normalcy as is possible.
Playing a huge part in relief efforts this year will be the activities of the HMBS Lawrence Major, an auxiliary vessel procured exactly for such times and occasions. Additionally, the 17-piece Container Mobile Base Unit, which is intended to provide accommodation and lodging for the remote areas hardest hit, is serviced and readied for immediate departure with crews already standing by. The Unit doubles as medical, water and food relief centers to surrounding communities.
All vessels of the RBDF are familiarized with their hurricane avoidance strategies depending on the projected movement of storm, including where to take shelter and where they will resupply. Ships are sometimes required to sail as far west as the Yucatan Channel near the way of the Caribbean Sea.
In Freeport, the nation’s second city, as well as on the islands of Abaco and Inagua, the Officer in charge of the Bases collaborates with local authorities and agencies to plan and assist with their disaster recovery and relief efforts. Last year the Defence Force provided extensive assistance to NEMA in the management of its disaster relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Joaquin. Similarly, all RBDF satellite bases around the Commonwealth of The Bahamas are also responsible for preparing their islands and people to face any eventualities before, during and after a storm.
A review of last year’s activity would show the Royal Bahamas Defence Force’s involvement at every level of disaster preparedness and management.
During last year’s post-Joaquin recovery efforts, over 60 RBDF personnel were deployed to 5 impacted islands where they assisted with food and water distribution, cleared roads and runways, provided security for supplies, executed minor home and building repairs. Moreover, personnel coordinated the distribution of 60 tons of food and miscellaneous supplies provided by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel Lyme Bay and set up the 17-piece container Mobile Base City in Landrail Point, Crooked Island to provide food, medical assistance, and water to locals. Additionally, over 1,000 cooked meals were prepared for the impacted community by the RBDF while they awaited flood waters to dissipate and their own cooking systems to be up and running.
Though the calls for support to the affected islands have dwindled considerably, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force continues to maintain a presence in Crooked Island, Long Island, San Salvador and Acklins, assisting in rebuilding efforts.
“As you can see, the RBDF cannot afford to sit back and wait to be ordered to prepare if it is to maintain the level of professionalism the people of The Bahamas have come to expect,” says Commander Defence Force (Acting), Captain Tellis Bethel. He emphasizes that, “The very safety of our brothers and sisters nationwide depend on the RBDF’s adherence to contingency plans and prior preparations.”
© Copyright 2016 by thebahamasweekly.com
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