Joint disaster response capabilities were at the centre of discussions between Hazard Management Cayman Islands, Jamaica Defence Force officials and members of a regional Disaster Assistance Response Team currently on island.
The visit, dubbed ‘Event Horizon’, commenced with the arrival of the response group in a 350 aircraft Tuesday and involved a tour of Cayman’s disaster response-and-relief capabilities, according to Hazard Management.
Hazard Management director Danielle Coleman, responding to Cayman Compass queries on the visit via email, said it was an important part of building and maintaining key relationships within the region.
“Whilst we have been fortunate enough to be in a position to assist other countries over the last few years, including the response to Hurricanes Irma (2017) and Dorian (2019), we recognize the need of building strong relationships with our regional counterparts so that we can assist each other when the need arises,” she said.
Coleman said, given the small size and relative isolation of the Cayman Islands, “surge capacity in the form of personnel and response capabilities will significantly assist Cayman’s response to any large-scale emergency that requires external support”.
The visiting team, which included responders from Jamaica, Dominican Republic and Bahamas, were taken on a tour of Hazard Management’s logistics and operations warehouse, as well as the emergency field hospital, the Cayman Islands Regiment headquarters, and the National Emergency Operations Centre.
Members of the Jamaica Defence Force and Disaster Assistance Response Team also met with Governor Jane Owen and representatives of the Cayman Islands Coast Guard and the Cayman Islands Regiment.
Owen, in a post on her official Facebook page, commented on the visit, saying was “fabulous to see regional resilience in action”.
“Responders [are] here from Jamaica, Dominican Republic and Bahamas to share expertise and build relationships with disaster response counterparts. Ongoing work on both hurricane preparedness and our wider efforts to protect our maritime boundaries,” the post stated.
Coleman added that regional support mechanisms are important in the aftermath of a disaster.
“Over the past years, the Cayman Islands has been able to provide a certain amount of assistance to Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian and the British Virgin Islands after the impacts of Hurricanes Irma and Maria,” she said.
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