Just prior to the start of the 2015 Atlantic Hurricane Season, members of the National Disaster Consultative Committee at the monthly meeting and press conference at NEMA on Gladstone Road on Friday, May 29, 2015. (BIS Photo/Raymond A Bethel Sr.)

NASSAU, The Bahamas – The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, kicked off National Disaster Preparedness Month with a church service at the East Street Gospel Chapel on Sunday, May 31, 2015.

The month will focus on hurricane preparedness under the theme: “Building Disaster Resilient Communities Through Mitigation, Preparedness and Effective Recovery.” The Atlantic Hurricane Season runs June 1 to November 30.

Present among the National Disaster Consultative Committee members was Minister of State in the Ministry of Works and Urban Development the Hon. Arnold Forbes, who brought remarks. Rev. Bradley King, pastor of the church and a member of National Disaster Committee delivered the sermon.

Mr. Forbes said he was extremely pleased to be present with NEMA to give God thanks for observing the 11th Disaster Preparedness Month on the eve of the Hurricane Season. “This is also a very good time to publicly acknowledge the contributions of Captain Stephen Russell and his staff and members of the National Disaster Preparedness Consultative Committee.

“Our nation is better for their humble service, their stellar performance, and their commitment to a Bahamas that is too often complacent when it comes to safety and preparedness,” he said.

Mr. Forbes further commended Captain Russell on his “remarkable gift of servant leadership” to NEMA in keeping the public educated and informed about The Bahamas capability and capacity to adequately respond to disasters.

“In agreement and in their usual proactive form, NEMA has embraced Comprehensive Disaster Management, whereby The Bahamas now seeks to strengthen institutional capacity while simultaneously diminishing exposure, and managing and coordinating response to natural and technological hazards.

 

The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, kicked off National Disaster Preparedness Month with a church service at the East Street Gospel Chapel on Sunday, May 31, 2015. Pictured out front are Minister of State in the Ministry of Works and Urban Development the Hon. Arnold Forbes. Pictured second row are Captain Stephen Russell, Director, NEMA, and his wife Aura Russell. In the foreground are members of National Disaster Consultative Committee. (BIS Photo/Raymond A. Bethel, Sr.)

“In all of this, NEMA continues to focus its efforts toward ensuring that we have well-trained and well-informed communities,” he said.

Mr. Forbes noted that this approach reminds the country that other threats are ever-present, including fire, flood, tornados, boating and aircraft mishaps, oil spills, climate change and other hazards.

“It reminds us that our plans must derive from factual evidence to support a focused approach to decision- and policy-making,” he said.

During the month of June, one of the activities NEMA will stage is a disaster Conference for the Southern Bahamas, June 2-4 in New Providence. The islands involved are Acklins and Long Cay, Cat Island, Crooked Island, Inagua, Mayaguana, San Salvador and Rum Cay.

“The Government of The Bahamas applauds your robust activity schedule for this month, which will strengthen public awareness of actions required to improve on our response should a disaster strike or threaten to strike The Bahamas,” Mr. Forbes said.

He urged the public at large to assist NEMA in its efforts for “as good as they are, NEMA alone cannot keep the Bahamas safe from disasters. Your commitment to your community and our commitment to each other will determine our ability to mitigate, to recover, and to rebuild better and smarter.”

Meanwhile, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecast is for a below-average season with 6-11 named storms, 3-6 hurricanes, and 0-2 major hurricanes (Category 3-5 storm). The average Atlantic hurricane season (based upon 1981-2010) typically sees 12 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes.

The names that will be given to storms during the 2015 season are: Ana, Bill, Claudette, Danny, Erika, Fred, Grace, Henri, Ida, Joaquim, Kate, Larry, Mindy, Nicholas, Odette, Peter, Rose, Sam, Teresa, Victor and Wanda.