Heavy flooding still remaining in Crooked Island weeks after Hurricane Joaquin.
Reader poll
Do you think NEMA did a satisfactory job during and after Hurricane Joaquin?
- Yes
- No
113 total votes.
By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
CROOKED Island Chief Councillor Timothy Thompson yesterday said the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) “dropped the ball,” adding that the island is still awaiting rebuilding supplies like plywood and shingles nearly three weeks after Hurricane Joaquin.
Mr Thompson told The Tribune that before the hurricane, officials from the island gave NEMA representatives a list of everything that was needed in the event of a storm, yet he claimed Crooked Island has still not received these supplies.
http://youtu.be/bnQw4KsIvI0“NEMA dropped the ball. It has been almost three weeks and they ain’t bring the first sheet of plywood yet. I believe they (must be) scared of the private sector. We don’t have anything yet. Before the hurricane when they had the NEMA conference, we gave them a list of what we needed them to bring down here in the event of a hurricane, for preparation ... they never moved a muscle for that,” Mr Thompson said.
“We have no plywood and shingles to replace, we need manpower as well to help because we have hardly anybody on the island. Most people went to Nassau after the ordeal.”
He said a lingering issue on the devastated island is leaking roofs, adding that for the last week he felt as though he was being “water boarded” with the amount of rain coming inside his home.
However, Mr Thompson said he believes the island has “a good amount of medicine” adding that residents “made a makeshift clinic at the airport.”
This comes after fears continue to mount on Crooked Island over the quality of the island’s ground water supply after it was discovered that two tanks holding nearly 50,000 gallons of fuel from the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) were dislodged by Hurricane Joaquin.
BEC’s infrastructure was also severely damaged by the storm, which has left the island without power.
On Monday, BEC Executive Chairman Leslie Miller confirmed that there was “some leakage” when the fuel tanks were dislodged, however he said a full analysis had not yet been completed to determine how much fuel was lost.
“There was some leakage during the hurricane, but we disconnected those and we already scraped out the fuel,” he said on Monday. “The amount that leaked depends on really the amount of the tanks, but because we only went there to check I don’t think an analysis has been done on that yet. They said it was little fuel in the tanks.”
He added: “But I don’t think BEC would play a big role in contamination if there is any there.”
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Perry Christie told the House of Assembly that officials have been able to measure the significant infrastructural damage on Crooked Island, which was the most heavily affected of all the islands from the storm. The damage there has caused the evacuation of 300 of its residents. The island suffered major damage from hurricane force winds, flooding and storm surges.
Sixty-five per cent of the homes on the island received major damage, 25 per cent sustained moderate damage and four per cent of the homes were completely destroyed, he said. Some homes had to be condemned.
In addition, Mr Christie said government schools on Crooked Island were completely damaged while 50 per cent of the state-owned buildings on the island received moderate damage.
Comments
ThisIsOurs 8 years, 6 months ago
So the Crooked Island councillor knew that a storm was coming. This confirms Crooked Island did receive a warning from the MET office . What are the procedures in crooked island to ensure that the elderly, the sick, persons in remote areas and the poor who may not have electronic communications are aware that a storm is coming? What are the procedures to get the persons on the coast into shelters? And who at the management level is responsible for checking that all of these procedures were in fact completed? The failure was not the radar.
thomas 8 years, 6 months ago
I think it says a request for the items was made following a previously held conference with NEMA.
B_I_D___ 8 years, 6 months ago
I'm thinking that the 'NEMA Conference' was held long before the storm...could have been at the start of Hurricane Season. I still agree that there was a MAJOR failure in the system. Also...as has been stated in the other stories and blogs, the Radar coverage does not extend far enough to make the radar a scapegoat...it's just a distracting story at the moment for people trying to gain some political ground.
thomas 8 years, 6 months ago
About that radar coverage ...will they ever be able to alert residents on those islands?
B_I_D___ 8 years, 6 months ago
I think there is enough satellite imagery and other information from NHC and other agencies that yes...of course, anybody with a bit of knowledge in how to read these GLOBALLY ready images and reports can give residents ample warning...they just elect not to gather as much information as they can to make the proper educated decision...case in point...shutting down Nassau ahead of the storm.
NassauBoy77 8 years, 6 months ago
I don't know where in the article it says that the Chief Councillor received or did not receive a warning from the MET Office that the storm was coming. I see that he asked NEMA for supplies at a conference. That conference was held in June 2015 at the start of the hurricane season. I don't see where he blames anything on equipment failure. His concern is that NEMA failed to provide the supplies prior to and even after. Those are the issues.
Stop defending stupidness and let us be concerned with addressing the issues.
ThisIsOurs 8 years, 6 months ago
Really? You cannot mean to tell me the last time NEMA was in contact with the councillor was June 2015...The commissioner stood on national tv showing us how he was in communication with every island. Are you trying to say the police knew about the storm but no one else on the island did? That is the real foolishness. This storm was reported from MONDAY. if the councillor administrator whoever was the local rep did not know they need to be fired.
I am speaking to the ridiculous reports that "no one was warned". Even if the winds were 30MPH, there must be standard procedures to be followed.
I'll accept that you know more about this June conference than I do, do you think it makes sense that if someone asked for hurricane supplies in June, it's now Oct but they don't see the supplies, a hurricane is on their doorstep, would it make sense to you that they would remind someone of their request? "Stop defending stupidly"
thomas 8 years, 6 months ago
As stated in the article ..."Before the hurricane when they had the NEMA conference, we gave them a list of what we needed them to bring down here in the event of a hurricane, for preparation" ..
Sickened 8 years, 5 months ago
I agree - ThisisOurs. I work in a damned office with only my house and family to worry about and I check Wunderground every week to see if there is a storm brewing close to use. If one is getting close I check everyday. Any island administrator, Police station, large organisation should be checking the weather even more than me. Whoever is caught by surprise is a fool and shouldn't hold any position in any organisation.
asiseeit 8 years, 6 months ago
The government of The Bahamas is an abject failure.
TalRussell 8 years, 6 months ago
NEMA thinks maybe they should ship Long and Crooked Islanders a container load fancy chandeliers - while knows they have no damn electricity to light them up.
By the way has NEMA recalled that Comrade Commodore who they say is kinda went to Baha Mar but still on taxpayers payroll. Is he helping with the relief efforts - if we can call them relief?
I swear i heard a PLP bragging about how power had been fully restored to crooked Island. If so, how do you fake darkness and your fridge ain't chilling ya hot dogs?
TalRussell 8 years, 6 months ago
Comrades within days of Hurricane Joaquin hitting Acklins Islands, is it true the PLP cabinet had the time to sign a contract to mine for Aragonite on Acklins? If true, what is the name of the Minister who signed the contract?
marrcus 8 years, 6 months ago
2012 ELECTION RESULTS PLP 75,815 - FNM 61,970 - DNA 13,206 Even if you add FNM & DNA together, still can't beat the PLP. PLP forever..........GET USED TO IT.
TruePeople 8 years, 6 months ago
we're used to it to the point of being tired of it str8
ohdrap4 8 years, 6 months ago
no radar needed. they will use color coded flags throughout the islands. YES, FLAGS.
I HAVE SOME HOMING PIGEONS FOR SALE, WONDER IF I CAN GET A CONTRACT.
The_Oracle 8 years, 6 months ago
Sure, for fertilizer! The stupidity from one end of the spectrum to the other is astounding on the one hand and to be expected on the other.
SP 8 years, 6 months ago
Crooked Island repeatedly voted for a confirmed well known jackass and the PLP claiming to be "die hard PLP's".
Now the definition of "die hard" is playing out on them and they are acting surprised and crying for help??
Maybe now Crooked Island, Acklins and Long Cay will vote with their heads instead of their ass's!
Sickened 8 years, 5 months ago
What we need is Loretta to run in every single constituency and win and let her run the whole damn country. She will do more by herself than the entire PLP government.
TalRussell 8 years, 5 months ago
Comrade the one complaint against Loretta that seems to stick is the one that she is her own worst political enemy. Always seems to start off with a loud bang for all to notice her, then somehow within but hours, days or months - manages to sizzle away any gained support.
TruePeople 8 years, 5 months ago
because she's a fighter and people are fickle. Still i prefer that style to the nexx 'sweep it unda the rug and lemme walk out with a palm fulla $$' style i does see amongst other officals
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID