DRM Leadership Meets Disaster Response Officials in the Ocean State

Warwick, RI, USA.  Leadership from the Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Authority recently met with The Rhode Island National Guard (RING) to build capacity and sharpen the country’s disaster readiness.  

Minister with Responsibility for Disaster Risk Management the Hon. Leon Lundy, Director Ralph Hanna, Executive Chairman Alex Storr, Managing Director Aarone Sargent,  Assistant Director for Strategic Communications Taige Adderley and Disaster Operations Manager Cleavon Nixon, met with RING Adjutant General Andrew Chevalier and members of his senior staff in Warwick, Rhode Island, to learn about RING’s disaster response procedures  and technical capabilities.   

RING serves as the key disaster response agency in Rhode Island and has been a longtime strategic ally of The Bahamas, providing training and support to the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. The visit provided the DRM Authority’s leadership with insight into how RING mitigates and responds to disasters in the state.  

In their meeting, Minister Lundy lauded the partnership with RING while reiterating The Bahamas’ commitment to continued cooperation with Rhode Island. General Chevalier also pledged RING’s continued support to The Bahamas in matters of disaster management, specifically in the areas of training and technical assistance. He also pledged “boots on the ground” support, if necessary, to The Bahamas in the event of a disaster. 

RING also facilitated a meeting between the DRM Authority’s leadership team and Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA) officials at the agency’s headquarters in Cranston.  

The DRM Authority is currently in the process of implementing WEB EOC technology into its disaster management protocols. REIMA officials gave the delegation a demonstration of how the technology was used to prepare for and respond to a blizzard that impacted the state a few days prior, providing real-world insight into best practices for use of this cutting-edge software.  

RIEMA gave DRM Authority officials a tour of its warehouse, sharing inventory protocols and the equipment kept on hand to respond to disasters. The DRM Authority hopes to apply RIEMA’s model for inventory management to its operations. 

The relationship with RING has significantly benefitted The Bahamas’s disaster preparedness, response and relief efforts. The DRM Authority will continue to prioritize the cultivation of friendly and fruitful relationships with local and international partners to meet the disaster management needs of The Bahamas and save lives.