NASSAU, The Bahamas — The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reported that Hurricane Irene disaster relief response is in high gear and started as early as Friday, when an initial assessment team, made of NEMA governmental and non-governmental partners, and a shipment of food, water and goods went to Acklins and Crooked Island.
Since then NEMA has co-ordinated the shipment of goods to Rum Cay, Cat Island, Crooked Island and Acklins, consisting mainly of basic food and water supplies. Utility poles have been shipped to Cat Island and Acklins by the Bahamas Electricity Corporation. Mayaguana received a shipment of goods from Jamaica through Caricom and delivered by the Jamaican Air Force, on Saturday, August 27.
Tarpaulin is available in large quantities and is being delivered as quickly as we are able to get space on flights going to the affected island. Also the HMBS Nassau is presently off Smith’s Bay delivering a contingent of 10 marines who join the two already posted there. Teams are assisting residents with cleanup and the entire ship’s company of some 30 to 40 persons are assisting with cleanup around the island.
Further efforts include the delivering and setting up generators, which will make water reverse osmosis plants operational; the Caribbean Disastster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) assisting with technical teams to conduct assessments, in Cat Island in particular; BEC being in contact with the Caribbean Electric Utility Service Corporation (CARILEC) with regard to assistance with electricity restoration, in Cat Island in particular and the Water and Sewerage Corporation sending generators to Cat Island to increase water production.
By Eric Rose
Bahamas Information Services
