NEMA: Hurricane Season Campaign calls for Disaster Resilience

Bahamas, May 30th 2017: Prime Minister Hubert Minnis dropped by NEMA on Monday and told them to use every tool available to get the public ready for the hurricane season with stronger PR. His visit comes on the heels of the official start of the 2017 hurricane season June 1^st. However, the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, is warning residents to exercise caution by securing an emergency plan for their families. The hurricane season starts at June 1^ST and ends at November 30^th.

The national disaster committee in its regular monthly meeting at the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, on Friday, May 26, 2017; just ahead of the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season. (BIS Photo/Lindsay Thompson)

NEMA, in rolling out its 2017 Hurricane season campaign “Maintaining Disaster Resilience throughout the Communities”, launched its “National Disaster Preparedness Week” which will run from June 11^th to June 28^th. Following last year’s devastation caused by Hurricane Matthew in October, Director of NEMA, Captain Stephen Russell underscored the importance of lessons learned from Hurricane Mathew last year, calling on residents to adhere to warnings issued by disaster management officials, especially calls for evacuation, and to take measures in a timely manner to safeguard their properties. Captain Russell is urging residents “not to wait until the last minute to find out where they have to go, in the event their homes are compromised”. Captain Russell reminded Local Government officials that they should have already met with their respective disaster consultative committees regarding level of preparedness.

While noting that several communities are still rebuilding from 2015’s Hurricane Joaquin and last year’s Hurricane Matthew, Captain Russell says “We are encouraging all residents to be mindful of the 2017 hurricane season, and to be prepared for what might occur during the upcoming season.  Meanwhile, NEMA is urging persons to keep abreast of the latest happenings this hurricane season via its social media avenues, on Facebook, Instagram, other sites.

This year, the Colorado State University Tropical Meteorology Project Outlook, headed by Dr. Phil Klotzbach, calls for 11 named storms, 4 hurricanes, and 2 to become major hurricanes. However, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting 11-17 named storms, 5-9 hurricanes, 2-4 becoming major hurricanes.

The 2017 Storm names are: Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Don, Emily, Franklin, Gert, Harvey, Irma, Jose, Katia, Lee, Maria, Nate, Ophelia, Philippe, Rina, Sean, Tammy, Vince and Whitney.

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