The new mobile shelter can accommodate 400, says Russell.

As the Bahamas prepares for the hurricane season, Captain Stephen Russell, director of the Office for Emergency Management (NEMA), said yesterday that the government had acquired a mobile shelter that could be deployed during recovery after a storm.

At a press conference at NEMA’s headquarters on Gladstone Road, Russell said, “The Evacuation Center Emergency Assistance Function Group is tasked with inspecting all evacuation centers across the Bahamas to determine which facilities are available this season. I have taken the lead. “

“The official list of shelters will be available within the next two weeks. As many of you may know, over the past year, through a U.S. military partnership, NEMA will be mobile enough to accommodate about 400 people. I was able to get the shelter system.

“The system also compromises on showers, toilets and field kitchens that can cook up to 600 meals on a particular day.”

According to Russell, NEMA has also moved the flood rescue equipment to 11 islands where the team was previously trained to use the equipment.

He did not indicate which island was equipped.

According to Russell, the government recently held a meeting with the Caribbean Disaster Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) to review Bahamas’ insurance policies and “consider the best possible options” before renewing this month’s insurance policies. I will do it. “

The 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season begins on June 1st and ends on November 30th.

Jeffrey Simmons, deputy director of meteorology, said the next season is expected to be a lively season.

“We anticipate a above-average hurricane season in 2022 this year,” he said.

“… Colorado State University has released their forecasts. NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) will not publish their forecasts until the end of May, a few weeks later.

“That is, as you’ve heard, the predictions are 19 named storms, 9 hurricanes, and 4 major hurricanes.”

The last hurricane that passed the Bahamas was Isaias in August 2020.

The last major hurricane to land was Dorian, which killed dozens of people and caused more than $ 3 billion in damage in September 2019.