By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

OFFICIALS held a disaster management workshop in Freeport yesterday to stress the importance of disaster and recovery planning in the event of a major catastrophe.

“The most important issue that we are really trying to get across is the private sector and public sector coming together with a plan in advance to anything happening,” said Rick Murrell, CEO of Tropical Shipping, the major the sponsors of the event. “What we need in Grand Bahama and The Bahamas, is a ‘togetherness plan.’”

Capt Stephen Russell, director of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), also attended the workshop, which was held in the Freeport Harbour Conference Room on Thursday morning.

Bringing opening remarks were Minister for Grand Bahama Dr Michael Darville, and Ian Rolle, president of the Grand Bahama Port Authority, who both stressed the importance of disaster preparedness.

Retired professor Roy Watlington, of the University of the Virgin Islands and a member of the Caribbean Integrated Coastal Ocean Observing System, said that The Bahamas has some protection due to its unique geological setting from local tsunamis, which do not allow much warning time.

However, he noted that threats remain.

He referred to the Canary Islands of Spain, where if an earthquake occurs it could trigger a tsunami across the Atlantic.

Although such an occurrence is rare, he said: “You have to be concerned about that. You must look across the Atlantic to distant sources, referring again to the 1755 Lisbon earthquake which triggered a tsunami that came across the Atlantic and did some damage.

“The Bahamas has so many good sides to its potential threat. The good side is that if it comes from that kind of distance you have lots of warning time,” explained Mr Watlington.

“There are protocols in place by NEMA and they are doing a great job and have a plan. I read their plan and it is excellent. And we need people to become aware of that plan and to prepare. If we are prepared then you don’t have to have fear.”

Mr Watlington said that there are fault systems that run along the southeastern coast of Cuba. “If an earthquake occurs in Cuba, it is a possible that you may feel it,” he said.

Mr Murrell, CEO Tropical Shipping, said that traditionally the public sector and the private sector work on their own disaster plans, but the objective of it is to encourage both sectors to work together.

“Everything you eat, drink, wear, and drive comes in through the private sector so to expect after a major disaster that any government could ever satisfy your needs and the feeding of the people is impractical and an impossible thing. So the key is how to get the private sector up and operating quickly; how do we get enough energy between the two groups so they will always function well after a disaster and not after a disaster try to figure out how to get things done.”