Trained teams are ready to assist Caribbean countries where a disaster might impact, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) has announced.
CDEMA said it has trained deployment teams to respond to any impacted country.
According to an agency release, thirty-one people who will operate via the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Disaster Relief Unit have received training to assist with humanitarian response during a disaster.
Sixty persons have also received training to assist with search and rescue.
The CARICOM Emergency Telecommunications Team (CETT) has 14 operators trained to use CDEMA’s specialized communication deployment kits.
CDEMA also has nine additional Starlink satellite internet terminals, two Hornet VSAP terminals, six Yeti Goal Zero solar generators, and new GPS handheld devices in its arsenal, which it can deploy where needed.
Additionally, the agency has agreements with King Ocean Services Shipping, Tropical Shipping, and Global & Service Development (GSD) to transport disaster relief.
CDEMA’s Executive Director, Elizabeth Riley, has urged regional governments and citizens to prepare for an above-normal hurricane season and severe weather expected over the next few months.
Riley explained that preparedness would help countries recover from hurricanes, floods, or other natural disasters.
The CDEMA official spoke at a media conference in St. Kitts & Nevis.
Experts have predicted that the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane season should produce 17 to 25 named storms.
However, the CDEMA Executive Director Riley reminded the Caribbean that it only takes one storm to devastate a country.
PHOTO: 2022 flooding in Corinth, Saint Lucia.
