The Dominica Red Cross continues to provide CBDM (Community Based Disaster Management) training activities in the field with support from ECHO, the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office.
Current beneficiaries of this programme, the communities of Laudat and Cochrane, held their Awareness Day Events on September 26 and October 3 to sensitise their respective communities of this project which provides training of CDRTs (Community Disaster Response Teams), preparation of Community and Household Disaster Plans and Hazard Maps, implementation of vulnerability and capacity assessments of communities, provision of mitigation kit items and resources for implementing a mitigation micro-project.
On the occasion of Cochrane’s Awareness Day, residents rushed out of their homes to the sound of squealing brakes and the impact of a vehicle as it came to rest against a wall at a dangerous bend in the community. This simulation exercise organised by the recently formed Cochrane Disaster Committee and supported by the Dominica Red Cross, involved six victims whom were moulaged to depict their injuries.
The CDRTs responded to this event by triaging the victims and preparing them for transportation by the Red Cross ambulance. On hand to witness this exercise and deliver the keynote address was Dr Colin McIntyre, Parliamentary Representative for the Roseau Valley constituency, who spoke to the value of such projects and the importance of community involvement and support.
Director General of the Red Cross, Mrs Kathleen Pinard-Byrne in giving an overview of the project said: “The importance of developing disaster plans is to ensure that all communities know what actions are to be taken before, during and after a disaster or emergency and thereby mitigate or reduce the negative impact of that event”.
These two communities are now in the final stages of the project, which involves completion of their mitigation micro-project. Both communities are constructing elevated concrete stands for 1000 gallon water tanks to serve their shelters.
Enclosure of the underneath of the stand will serve to provide a storage room for mitigation kit items provided through the project.
Hats Off to ECHO The Dominica Red Cross and CBDM for taking the initiative in educating and training our ppl incase of an unlikely disaster this will surely go a long way to the improvement of these communities the individuals and our entire country on a whole i would like to see more of these activities stretched to all the villages across the country again Hats off to the relative authorities keep up the great work …….
That`s good news, I`m happy to read and to see our people can train each other, so that if a disaster take place we know how to move. We all are in need of each another. Need more of that through out Dominica. Lover of my rainny village…
I expected to see a string of comments from our vocal friends posting comments about the political news…
This is what we need in Dominica. People working together for the benefit of all. Every village in Dominica should put something like that place, because when something bad happens, it gets worst quickly. Those abroad should look to make donations in kind of supplies such as latex gloves, storm radios, flashlights…together we all achieve more.