NEMA: We wouldn’t have done anything differently

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

A NATIONAL Emergency Management Agency official yesterday said in hindsight, there was nothing NEMA could have done differently during the passage of Hurricane Joaquin despite mounting criticisms over NEMA’s handling of the storm and response time to the affected islands.

During a press briefing yesterday, NEMA’s First Assistant Secretary Chrystal Glinton said everyone on the disaster preparedness committee did their jobs as they had been trained to do all year.

However, she admitted to reporters that NEMA officials did not go into the southern and central islands immediately following the monster storm, saying that the focus was on ensuring that NEMA assessors would be free from danger as they carried out initial assessments.

Hurricane Joaquin beat down on the central and southern Bahamas more than a week ago, leaving behind damage in Acklins, San Salvador, Crooked Island, Long Island, Rum Cay and Long Cay. Approximately 5,000 people were affected by the category four storm.

“Persons have mentioned that we didn’t go out initially,” Ms Glinton said, “but we could not because we had to ensure that the airports were safe for us to go out.

“We didn’t wish to have our assessors…there were no fatalities and then when we sent out our assessors, there (would be) fatalities. NEMA did our job. All of our persons on the ground from the emergency support function group they are all professionals and they went out and did all the assessments like they were mandated to do.”

Asked by a reporter if anything could have been done differently, she said: “No. I can honestly stand here and say no, in my opinion. I have a director. But we speak as one body, all of us.”

She added: “All of us did our jobs and that is what we deal with… preparedness. We wouldn’t have done anything any different. That’s the reason we do the preparedness in advance prior to the storm. We deal with nothing but training in here year round.”

Her statement came days after Agriculture Minister V Alfred Gray, also the member of Parliament for the MICAL constituency, said “heads should roll” over some agencies’ handling of the storm. Mr Gray also suggested that NEMA and the Department of Meteorology fell down on the job, saying they were “seemingly caught off guard.”

Last week, it was revealed that most of the shelters on the islands impacted by the storm were not open. According to information from NEMA, none of Acklins six shelters were open at the time while only two of Crooked Island’s seven shelters were open. Rum Cay’s only shelter was open, however that building and the shelters in Crooked Island were “compromised,” forcing residents to seek refuge in other structures.

In Long Island, one of 10 shelters was open and three of five were open on San Salvador.

Medical assistance

Meanwhile, Marcelle Johnson, the director of nursing at the Ministry of Health, said the ministry has been challenged with providing teams since the passing of Hurricane Joaquin. However, she said, more than two dozen health professionals, including doctors have been dispatched to several islands.

These nurses and doctors will serve the affected islands for periods of two to seven days and return to the capital for rest while new personnel is sent out.

She said arrangements are now being made for mental health teams to start counselling members of the affected communities and a team of two psychologists and one psychiatrist is expected to soon be deployed to Long Island.

She added that counselling will be available for all residents in the affected areas.

Medical supplies, including vaccines and equipment, have been sent to all southern and central islands since last week.

Ms Johnson said medical officials are finding a high number of skin rashes as well as people with chronic conditions who lost their medication during the storm.

Potable Water

According to Robert Deal, deputy general manager at the Water and Sewerage Corporation, teams have been sent to all the affected islands and are working around the clock to ensure that residents have water, which is safe to use.

“Following the passage of Hurricane Joaquin, on Sunday, October 4, the corporation sent out dispatched teams to San Salvador, Long Island, Crooked Island, Long Cay and Acklins. Those teams went in to provide immediate disaster assessments and also to assist with emergency repairs and restoring our supplies in those islands.”

In San Salvador, Water and Sewerage resumed normal water supply operations by the use of a standby generator and later got confirmation from BEC that the power supply has been fully restored to the plant in Cockburn Town.

He said at this moment water is being supplied to all of the residents, and teams on the island are actively and thoroughly reviewing the distribution systems to ensure that if there are any visible leaks they can be rapidly addressed.

Long Island’s southern desalination plant was quickly restored, with normal water operations restored last week.

Further south in Deadman’s Cay water was restored using a standby generator. That remains in operation at this time.

In Crooked Island and Long cay limited supply was restored using a standby generator.

Environmental Health

Assistant Director of the Department of Environmental Health Andrew Thompson said there have been two separate teams sent out to date - 13 persons in total to all parts of Long Island.

An additional six persons were also sent to Crooked Island and five to Acklins. There have also been two officers sent to Rum Cay and four to San Salvador. These teams will be rotated every two weeks.

“We commenced vector control treatment as you might be aware and our approach is both to control the adults and the aquatic stages of the larvae in the standing water. Right at this moment there would be significant pest mosquitoes coming off the waters because it is salt water mixed with fresh water so you are going to have a lot of breeding.

“The best control at this time is to turn those containers down.”

The department is also looking at solid waste issues and recommends the separation of different waste objects. For meats and dead animals on the island they recommend burning and burial.

The Department of Social Services has dispatched a total of 25 social workers to all islands. BTC officials have also said that for the most part, land lines on all affected islands have been restored. However, he said, 38 per cent of the cellular customers in the country remain without service.

Comments

marrcus says...

This makes no sense to me.
PGC come on the news saying "teachable moment," and getting it right the next time. AND the storm hadn't even passed yet. NOW NEMA, is saying they wouldn't do anything different, except there job ain't over now, in fact it should be in full swing. What are they doing NOW.???

Posted 13 October 2015, 1:05 p.m. Suggest removal

Foxie says...

If all the officials at Nema would stop trying to find/makeup excuses and just SHUT-UP, STOP, SIT & REVIEW there actions, preparedness and warnings to the Bahamian People of the approaching Monster maybe, then just maybe they would all tender their resignations "Forthwith" .....

Thank God for the Weather Station & The Florida News Stations.

RESIGN NEMA OFFICIALS. That is the Honorable thing to do.....

Posted 13 October 2015, 1:09 p.m. Suggest removal

TalRussell says...

Comrade Marcus, pretty damn serious when NEMA is saying they wouldn't do anything different in the way (a) they prepared for Hurricane Joaquin: (b) the way they "didn't swung into action" during the occurring devastation taking place, (c). how's they swungs into action "right after it was much safer go outside". Could it be the strong winds does chills their frail bones? You tell me NEMA?
If you thinks I makes this NEMA stuff up, it ain't so - but Loretta must thinks I do?

Posted 13 October 2015, 1:25 p.m. Suggest removal

sealice says...

"we wouldn't have done anything differently" = there's only one way to do nothing and that's what we did and would do it again?

Posted 13 October 2015, 1:30 p.m. Suggest removal

ThisIsOurs says...

The country of *if I say it is, it is* and *since you say it is and I benefit, it's ok*.

The facts of this debacle will soon be overshadowed by the narrative on the facts. Ms Glinton has already convinced herself that NEMA responded perfectly.

Posted 13 October 2015, 2:17 p.m. Suggest removal

gbgal says...

Amazing to read that they would do nothing differently! The comment translates into "We did everything perfectly!" !! Hope they sit down to the "Post Mortem" soon to update the plans and strategies for future catastrophic events. Unbelievable!

Posted 13 October 2015, 2:37 p.m. Suggest removal

TalRussell says...

Comrade Gbgal, in the first place there is not the slightest evidence anywhere on any of the most affected islands nor any other place on the face of the earth of noticeable pre hurricane preparations by NEMA, nor has there been any quick and effective response by NEMA. What Crystal does have is a great imagination - faulty as it is.

Posted 13 October 2015, 2:53 p.m. Suggest removal

Well_mudda_take_sic says...

The problem is a fundamental one like so many others. Simply put, Ms Glinton feels a debt of gratitude to the Christie-led PLP government for being employed and having the ability to continue sucking on the greatest teat of them all: The Public Purse! Now let's get that $15 million dollar Carnival going to liven up those poor people down south who are recovering from Joaquin. Someone find Paul Major....the country has a show to put on!

Posted 13 October 2015, 3:49 p.m. Suggest removal

Stapedius says...

What a stupid, pig-headed approach these people have. Ok fine, non one is perfect but people must learn to admit when there is a flawed process. There's no need to take it personal. The procedures and plans were simply poor and NEMA can say whatever they want but, simply put they dropped the ball on this. It is quite arrogant and silly to think that one has all the answers and it appears the attitude of this low level NEMA official. Frankly speaking she shouldn't even be heard from. The director needs to take public criticism and stop hiding behind politicians. How can they say with a straight face that they were prepared? It would be better and more honest to simply say 'we were caught off guard, we will work to improve our systems and we apologize most profusely to Bahamians affected.' But no they make a statement about their training and how much they trained. Well how about this. Your training sucks and didn't do anybody any good so go get re-trained so you can be of some use next time.

Posted 13 October 2015, 6:04 p.m. Suggest removal

countryfirst says...

Sadly this is what happens when mediocre is the top standard.

Posted 13 October 2015, 9:11 p.m. Suggest removal

Greentea says...

Amen.

Posted 14 October 2015, 12:39 a.m. Suggest removal

TalRussell says...

Comrades if you were the PM or DPM, and you wanted to go about avoiding making a comment or taking responsibility, could you think of a better way than to have NEMA’s First Assistant Secretary Chrystal to stand before the media in your defense. Honestly, I mean a First Assistant has be about as far removed from seniority as would be NEMA's Assistant to the Senior Janitor. But then again. they do need someone to mop up their BS. The citizens know damn well that credibility has become a serious issue with this cabinet.

Posted 13 October 2015, 9:54 p.m. Suggest removal

Baha10 says...

NEMA has become a National disgrace for their inaction before, during and now after the Storm. It is embarrassingly tragic that they do not recognize this themselves in an effort to address. Suffice it to say, if Heads do not roll soon, they will be responsible more than anything else for the downfall of the PLP, who may never recover as putting lives in jeopardy will take "many" generations to forget, if ever!

Posted 13 October 2015, 10:05 p.m. Suggest removal

Greentea says...

NEMA should be disbanded and non-thinking, arrogant, mediocre public servants like this sent home. Shame they didnt train them how to think on their feEt in response to actual disasters - or in other words - How to do their jobs- Unbelievable!

Posted 14 October 2015, 12:44 a.m. Suggest removal

TalRussell says...

Comrade Greentea, we need an "Always On Guard" National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). We just have to figure out how to go about removing the petty political politics out the equation. We can learn lots from the resounding many years of success of BASRA which is the only dedicated search and rescue organization in the Bahamaland's.
Could make for an interesting read over the minutes of NEMA's meetings with BASRA.

Posted 14 October 2015, 11:23 a.m. Suggest removal

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