NASSAU, The Bahamas -- Officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) hosted incoming Family Island Administrators, in addition to officials from the United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) and the United States Forestry Service to a series of meetings at the Agency’s headquarters located Gladstone Road and NEMA’s Way.  The visit with the Family Island Administrators, September 28, 2022 was part of a long, and ongoing collaboration between NEMA and the Department of Local Government to bring incoming Administrators up to speed on the role of the Family Island Administrator, and the National Emergency Management Agency, in the country’s Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management Strategy. 
 

The Island Administrators got a first-hand view of NEMA in action as the visit coincided with the Agency’s National Emergency Operations Centre being in Partial Activation mode in anticipation of potential impacts of Tropical Storm-Force conditions from Hurricane Ian on the northwest Bahamas – particularly Grand Bahama and the Biminis.

Director of NEMA, Captain Stephen Russell said the Agency looks forward to all opportunities to dialogue with the various Island Administrators as to their roles in the country’s Comprehensive Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Strategy, in addition to NEMA’s role in that process. 
 

Captain Russell said the collaboration also assists the Agency in building institutional capacity across the Family Islands. Teamwork, Captain Russell said, is essential in disaster risk management.

Captain Russell said the Agency has been working with the United States Northern Command for more than two decades, adding that officials at USNORTHCOM and their partners, have been tremendous partners in helping to build the Agency’s institutional training and the country’s disaster management framework capacity through exchange of knowledge.

Captain Russell said the USFS also has experience in the area of Forestry Management that could be beneficial to local forestry experts.