EDITORIAL - CDEMA to the rescue

As a number of the Participating States of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) braced recently for the pending impact of a tropical weather system, CDEMA once again took the lead to coordinate the Regional Response Mechanism (RRM).

 

CDEMA, in collaboration with the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH), convened a pre-strike meeting of the Eastern Caribbean Development Partner Group (ECDPG) on Tuesday September 27, 2016, to plan for possible scenarios in preparation for the impact. The CDEMA Coordinating Unit was in contact with the National Disaster Coordinators (NDCs) in Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and also Trinidad and Tobago. A number of actions were then taken by each country – including meetings of the heads of all
sub-committees of the national disaster system, such as the essential services – in preparation for any likely impact. Here in Barbados, following information and updates from the local Meteorological Offices, the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) was later activated, in response to the threat of the impending weather system.

 

At the time, Ronald Jackson, Executive Director of CDEMA stressed that the agency was monitoring weather systems that may threaten several of its Participating States, given that “we are in the peak of the hurricane season”.

 

Tropical Storm Matthew later strengthened to a hurricane and in anticipation of the potential impact of that system on Haiti and the other Participating States of the CDEMA, the region’s premier institution for disaster management stepped up to the plate once again, noting that it would continue to facilitate coordination with its partners, through the Regional Response Mechanism (RRM).

 

Reports this week indicate that the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) deployed two sets of specialised response teams to Haiti and The Bahamas. According to Clive Murray, Communication and Education Specialist at CDEMA, these efforts are to assist these countries in dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew, given that they suffered a severe impact from the passage of the storm.

 

He revealed that based on the request of the Government of Haiti and based on priority needs identified, CDEMA was set to deploy a six-member CARICOM Operational Support Team (COST) to Haiti yesterday. Three Rapid Needs Assessment Teams (RNATs) were also deployed to The Bahamas yesterday as well to facilitate damage assessments and needs analysis.

 

CDEMA must be recognised for its efforts in reaching out to its partners and generally standing ready in times of need, to provide assistance to any of its Participating States, upon their request.

Barbados and other Participating States can truly say that CDEMA has been one to rely on, in its 25 years of existence. CDEMA must be commended for coming to the rescue of many states and ensuring that relief and response support are provided to the impacted countries in a timely fashion. Without a doubt, countries hit by a severe weather system, whether a storm or a hurricane, need this critical assistance during the aftermath and even beyond, and CDEMA has surely been doing its part.

 

We therefore salute CDEMA, even as the agency celebrates 25 years this year, recognising that it has played a vital role across the region in providing emergency response and disaster relief, given our fragile economies and landscapes and their vulnerability to natural and man-made hazards.