The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

THE Salvation Army of the Bahamas has received $30,000 from the US Agency for International Development/US Office of Foreign Affairs/Latin America and the Caribbean (USAID/OFDA/LAC) to assist in repairing storm shelters in the Grants Town and Mackey Street areas.

The USAID/OFDA/LAC made the decision to grant the money to repair two government certified emergency community shelters after an application was filed by the Salvation Army in February.

The grant agreement was signed yesterday at the head office of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

Captain Stephen Russell, director of NEMA, said: “In the aftermath of Hurricane Irene and Sandy we got calls from 17 shelters that they are in distress and need some assistance.”

Officials said although more money would be needed to completely repair the shelters, the grant is a step in the right direction.

“There was significant damage to the roofs, especially to the shelter in Mackey Street,” said Arnold Bullard, contractor for project.

“Some of the bathrooms and most of the walls are damaged at the shelter at Mackey Street.

“The Grants Town roof would take $37,000 and a few thousand would be required to fix roof damage at the Mackey Street shelter.”

Mr Bullard said completion of the projects depends on when the remainder of the funds are provided, but work is expected to begin immediately.

He stressed the urgency of completing the repairs before hurricane season heats up, “because the repairs are hard to do during rainy weather.”

“Repairs should take place for about a month in the Grants Town shelter and a few weeks in Mackey Street,” he added.

Marsha Kanady-Deveaux, head of community relations and development for the Salvation Army, said: “We need $43,000 to revamp and repair hurricane shelters,” adding that during hurricane season the shelters house lots of people.

“During Hurricane Sandy, 30 people occupied the Mackey Street shelter while 40 to 50 people occupied the Grants Town shelter. During Hurricane Irene the shelters were full to capacity with over 100 persons,” she said.

Lester Ferguson, divisional commander of the Salvation Army, said: “We’re grateful for our many partners.

“The Salvation Army has been in the Bahamas for 80 years and is in 126 countries desiring to do good. We have to work alongside partners and agencies to be able to do the kind of work we have to do.

“We were reminded during the last set of rains just how badly we are in need of repairs. After the repairs are completed, hopefully the picture will tell the tale of the success.”

Timothy Gallaghan, senior regional advisor for USAID/OFDA/LAC, praised the initiative, saying the grant is important because “the time to prepare and create awareness and preparedness efforts is now when the sun is shining. We can’t predict when the storms are coming but we do know the season expects up to 20 storms.”

Alex Sokoloff, acting deputy chief of mission at the US Embassy, said: “I’ve been here for two years and every year we’ve had a hurricane. What’s gratifying this year is that the grant is proactive rather than reactive. As members of the US Embassy based here in the Bahamas, hurricanes that hit here hit us as well – we are affected.”

The USAID/OFDA/LAC previously helped to co-fund training programmes, shelter management and instructor training initiatives for the National Emergency Management Agency and provided NEMA with grants for generators and safer school programmes.