#Nassau, September 7, 2019 – Bahamas – The National Emergency Management Agency,
NEMA, is conducting a Rapid Assessment exercise of the areas mostly impacted by
the powerful and deadly Hurricane Dorian.
The teams will visit Treasure Cay, Abaco
and Freeport, Grand Bahama, the areas hardest by the Category 5 storm with
winds exceeding 180mph in Abaco and weakened to a still powerful Category 4
storm over Grand Bahama.
The team comprises technical experts from
the Ministry of Works, the Bahamas Department of Meteorology, Water &
Sewerage Corporation, Bahamas Power and Light, Aliv, the Department of
Environmental Health Services, the Department of Social Services, and other
technocrats.
This team will assess the damage of
infrastructure, see how many people are displaced and inspect critical
facilities with a view to how quickly life can be restored to some sense of
normalcy. The team will also assess damage and make
recommendations to the Government regarding relief, recovery and
reconstruction.
A rapid assessment is conducted immediately
after the onset of a disaster in order to locally assess the disaster-affected
areas and the needs of disaster victims.
This important assessment
process allows NEMA to understand the greatest needs of residents and recommend
the most effective strategies for further recovery mobilization.
This process, also allows NEMA
to properly advise The Bahamas Government on the level of damage and the need
for an Exigency Order to be granted to allow Bahamians to replace their
supplies, duty free for designated period.
Immediately after the All Clear was issued
for both islands, Prime Minister the Most Hon Dr Hubert Minnis first conducted
an Initial Rapid Assessment of the areas, transported by the U S Coast Guard
helicopter. This was performed to determine a broad assessment of the disaster
and basic needs of the population in order to identify priorities for
assistance.
Supplies
were sent from NEMA, the Royal Bahamas Defense Force, the Royal Navy of the
United Kingdom and many other sources, including from the private sector.
Release: BIS
For
more information contact: Lindsay Thompson, Public Information Officer
Email:
lindsaythompson@bahamas.gov.bs
or NEMA@bahamas.gov.bs
or nemabahamas242@gmail.com
Contacts:
242-322-6081/5 or 242-361-5569 or 242-376-2042