Millions Set Aside as Bahamas Strengthens Disaster Preparedness

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NASSAU , BAHAMAS – If a major hurricane threatens The Bahamas, disaster officials say the plan is to be ready long before the first warning is issued.

From testing response systems to building up resources in the Family Islands, officials say preparations have been taking place throughout the year.

And Disaster Risk Management Authority Managing Director Aarone Sargent says one of the biggest changes is how response teams will communicate when an emergency hits.

Aarone Sargent – Managing Director, Disaster Risk Management Authority

“We’ve launched our new disaster communications platform for all of the first responders, all of our emergency support groups. That Web UC is launched. We’re in the phase of testing and continuous rollout. So we now have a central point of coordination with administrators, with various team members, with various government agencies that strengthens how quickly we respond.”

The other part of the plan is making sure response doesn’t have to start in New Providence.

The authority is working to give Family Island administrators greater capacity to handle emergencies on the ground, while also increasing technical resources, equipment, fleet and relief supplies.

But Sargent says there’s one area where more work is needed.

Aarone Sargent – Managing Director, Disaster Risk Management Authority

“One of the biggest challenges is shelters, and proper shelters that allow them to withstand 200-mile-per-hour winds. Ministry of Works building code states that any emergency shelter or any facility used for that type of purpose must be able to withstand 200-mile-per-hour winds. And as such, a lot of the shelters that are in the inventory were built predating this building code. And so again, this is work in progress.”

That’s why a new shelter-building project is also on the agenda, with plans for multiple large-scale facilities across the country.

And beyond the physical preparations, millions of dollars have also been set aside for what happens before and after a disaster.

The two funds together currently hold about 23 million dollars.

But there’s still a final piece needed before that money can be fully put to work.

Aarone Sargent – Managing Director, Disaster Risk Management Authority

“Something that I’m passionate about, and excited about, is the establishment and seeding of the Disaster Prevention Fund, which has approximately six million dollars in it. I’m happy to note that those funds are within the Central Bank. And then you have the Disaster Emergency Fund, which is 17 million dollars. Those revolve around, or are supported or undergirded by, the National Disaster Financial Comprehensive Strategy. And those have to be replenished on an annual basis. We now have funding that allows us to prepare.”