Dorian Response - Operations Update #1

GER³'s Global Response Team (GRT) arrived in Nassau on September 4th, equipped with relief and recovery supplies and prepared to respond to the devastation left by Hurricane Dorian. Upon arrival, the team connected with the Bahamian National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the leader of current response efforts, and attended initial coordination meetings and briefings with United Nations agencies, the Red Cross, INGOs and other local partners and agencies. With the information and coordination of these groups, the GRT prepared to mobilize to Grand Bahama.

The GRT deployed to Grand Bahama to assess the most affected areas and immediately begin relief and recovery support. Our team quickly set up operations in Freeport, establishing a temporary EOC, vehicles, drivers and equipment to begin operations.

In Freeport, the team immediately started support to Rand Memorial Hospital with debris clearance so that they can increase their operational capacity. The administrative staff run six health centers on the island, all of which were seriously affected by Dorian. Rand Hospital is operating at a limited capacity, while many of the other health centers are not operating at all. One is currently inaccessible entirely. The hospital staff are exhausted and overwhelmed, working 16hr+ days to get the hospital back online and functional. Most of the staff’s homes have also been badly affected. GER³’s team offered support and they graciously accepted our services, particularly the debris clearance support we could offer. With our help, Rand’s medical helipad was cleared for access today.

In addition to supporting Rand hospital, GER ³ delivered a generator, shelter items, clean up supplies and water purification tablets to High Rock, one of the worst affected communities on Grand Bahama. Most of the community was destroyed and GER ³ will continue supporting these severely affected communities all along the eastern coast.

GER ³ is focusing on designing programs that consider the full recovery process. Our programs are built to facilitate the transition from the relief and recovery phase through the reconstruction phase. We hope to stay with these affected communities throughout the full process, enabling a smooth process for relief and recovery and leaving them fully recovered and rebuilt better than before hurricane Dorian struck the island.

Hurricane Dorian Response Update

The GER3 team is now operational in Grand Bahama. Our Global Response Team (GRT) sourced supplies and equipment to support affected communities, including cleaning equipment (sanitizing products, gloves, sponges, etc), chainsaws for debris removal, a generator, duct tape, flashlights and a supply of water tablets to purify drinking water.

The team arrived in Freeport this afternoon and will begin working with communities and will gain insight for additional supplies, equipment and types of support most needed. The team will mobilize to most affected communities and begin supporting immediate needs.

The GRT will continue to assess needs on the ground on the eastern part of the island with a continued focus on debris management. Our debris specialist will work with local community members to assess and appropriately address debris. We will train communities on proper chainsaw use for clearing and re-using organic debris where possible. Initial assessments will continue to inform GER3’s programming, focusing on addressing the immediate needs while also preparing for transitioning from relief and recovery all the way through reconstruction. Updates from Grand Bahama to come!

RESPONDING TO HURRICANE DORIAN

GER3 is responding to Hurricane Dorian that is causing devastation in the Bahamas and that is also a significant threat the US east coast. Unfortunately, the indications are that the needs for support in the Bahamas will be significant including for debris management operations.  

GER3 is deploying its Global Response Team (GRT) and will be operational in affected areas as soon as possible. GER3 will be targeting support to especially vulnerable families who have been affected by Dorian. Our team will be working with community members to identify families most in need, understand how to best support, and provide the appropriate help to get them back into their homes as quickly as possible.

Likely support includes: 

• Clean-up kits

• Cleaning out homes, schools and health facilities with the removal or recycling of debris

• Connecting families with a range of partner resources (e.g. food, water, housing, medical facilities) that can help them recover faster

• Identification and supply of professionals to support with home repair, restoration of schools and health facilities

As with all GER3 operations, we seek to use sustainable supplies, recycle available materials and respond based on the needs specified by the communities and households themselves. We plan to match the GER3 'build back better' approach to meet those needs as best as possible. 

GER3 believes response is strengthened through partnerships, and is looking forward to working with other great organizations to have a deep impact on targeted families.  

100% of any donations made here on our website will now go directly to the GER3 Dorian operation and will help people recover as quickly as possible.

You can follow us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/GEmergencyR3/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/gemergencyr/) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/GEmergencyR). 

Additionally, GER3 is now on Amazon Smile!  Click here (https://smile.amazon.com/ch/81-0690876) when you do your Amazon shopping as a portion of the amount you pay will come to GER3 at no extra cost to you.

Fall 2018 Updates

GER³ recently responded to three emergencies, deploying response teams and immediate assistance to the most vulnerable communities in the aftermath of hurricanes Florence (North Carolina) and Michael (Florida) as well as the Indonesia Earthquake and Tsunami (Sulawesi, Indonesia). GER³ response teams deployed to the affected areas as soon as possible in order to assess the needs on the ground and tailor relief and recovery efforts to meet the specific needs which emerged after each disaster.

Responding to Hurricane Florence in September, a GER³ disaster response team immediately deployed to the region with equipment for relief and recovery. The team, in partnership with J/P HRO, targeted efforts towards critically vulnerable families affected by the flooding in Robeson County, North Carolina. The response included: Muck outs and debris clearance, pumps (for pumping water from homes), dehumidifiers & fans, clean-up kits, and identification and supply of contractors to support with mold remediation. For more details about the specific response efforts, partnerships, and results in Robeson county, please visit the project page here.

In response to the 7.5 magnitude earthquake in Indonesia, GER³ deployed a disaster response and recovery team to conduct initial assessments, deliver assistance and design programming focused on debris management and building back better. GER³ targeted support to local communities (households, schools and health facilities) and supported the management of debris and shelter challenges they faced. For more information and photos, please visit the project page here.

Responding to hurricane Michael in Florida, GER³ focused on maximizing impact for a few select families in a particularly vulnerable town. The team supported a local entrepreneur with a small logging business to provide debris removal for families in Blountstown. Additional information and personal experiences shared by each family supported by GER³ can be found here.

Hurricane Michael response

GER³ is now responding to Hurricane Michael which caused devastation and a need for significant debris management operations in the Florida panhandle and many other areas.

The GER³ team has arrived in the affected area with equipment (including clean up kits, generators, telecommunications equipment, personal protective equipment, and more) and is now operational. GER³ is targeting support to especially vulnerable families and providing the appropriate support to get them back into their homes as quickly as possible.

As with all GER³ operations, we seek to use sustainable supplies, recycle available materials and respond based on the needs specified by the communities and households themselves. We plan to match the GER³ 'build back better' approach to meet those needs as best as possible.

GER³ believes response is strengthened through partnerships, and is looking forward to working with other great organizations already in the area to have a deep impact on targeted families.

100% of any donations go directly to the GER³ Michael operation and will help people recover as quickly as possible.

Additionally, GER³ is now on Amazon Smile! Click here (https://smile.amazon.com/ch/81-0690876) when you do your Amazon shopping as a portion of the amount you pay will come to GER3 at no extra cost - thank you for your support!

Updates from Indonesia

GER³ has conducted initial needs assessments with a particular focus on debris management and has initiated response programs to address needs of the most vulnerable. A small GER³ team has developed on site, including several local Indonesian team members. Equipment (generators, excavators, bulldozers, etc) have been procured and debris management operations have begun.

New debris estimates from Urban Resilience Platform (urplatform.eu) emphasize the significant debris management work ahead in Indonesia. Estimates suggest over 6.6 million tonnes of debris. GER³ will continue to assess options for debris removal and reuse in various communities, particularly in schools.

GER³ is now working with the government of Indonesia to help clear a school in Palu that was hit by the tsunami. The GER³ excavator has already helped to clear over half of the site. The team is considering demolition activities, assessing which materials can be salvaged and reused, and developing plans for redevelopment.

Deployment to Sulawesi, Indonesia

In response to the recent earthquake and tsunami in Sulawesi, Indonesia, GER³ is deploying a disaster response and recovery team to conduct initial assessments, deliver assistance and design programming focused on debris management and building back better. GER³ will be targeting support to local communities (households, schools and health facilities) supporting them to manage all of the debris and shelter challenges they currently face.

Our team will work with community members to identify the most vulnerable areas, understand what the community needs are and provide support to help targeted communities recover as quickly as possible. GER³ will seek to develop programming with partners (Indonesian and international) that meets immediate and longer-term needs in a manner that respects local practices, is sustainable (usually involving the recycling of materials) and high impact.

Additional updates will be coming, but also be sure to follow our work on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!

Hurricane Florence Response

In response to Hurricane Florence, GER³ is deploying two disaster response specialists to North Carolina with response and recovery equipment (including water pumps, boats for access and rescue as needed, clean-up kits, telecommunications equipment, personal protective equipment, and more). GER³ will be targeting support to especially vulnerable families affected by the flooding in North and South Carolina. Our team will work with community members to identify most vulnerable families, understand what their needs are and provide support to get them back into their homes as quickly as possible. Likely support includes:

• Temporary boat rescue
• Muck outs and debris clearance
• Pumps (for pumping water from homes)
• Dehumidifiers
• Clean-up kits
• Identification and supply of contractors to support with mold remediation and targeted building repair (e.g. drywall).

GER³ is looking forward to partnering with other organizations in the area to have a deep impact on targeted families. If you are interested in supporting GER³'s efforts in response to Hurricane Florence, please contact GER³.

More updates to come!

Google Maps Image: 2:10pm EST, September 14.

Support to Local Habitat for Humanity

GER³ supported a local chapter of Habitat for Humanity by bringing tornado recovery supplies to Amherst County, Virginia. After being hit by an EF 2 tornado on April 15, the county is still recovering and rebuilding the over 140 houses and structures severely damaged by the storm. Volunteers Margaret and Thomas Bacon helped load a truck provided by GER³ in Winchester and transported the donations to the Habitat in Amherst County.

Wrapping up Support to the Waitt Foundation in Barbuda

GER³ staff have officially returned home after providing over four months of support to the Waitt Foundation in Antigua and Barbuda.

The Waitt Foundation has been operating in Antigua and Barbuda since 2014, providing resources and expertise to help conserve the islands' ocean resources. After Hurricane Irma struck Barbuda on September 6^th 2017, Waitt converted its resources to provide recovery services for the affected population through the Barbuda Recovery and Conservation Trust (BRC Trust).

With support from GER³ day-to-day operational leadership, the BRC Trust operation has employed over 30 Barbudan workers, transported 828 people back to Barbuda and provided over 300 people with social services. BRC Trust programs also helped to support two Barbudan restaraunts, sponsored over 80 Barbudan children living in Antigua to attend a swimming and football camp, and helped to feed and shelter over 130 dogs abandoned on the island after the storm.

For more information, please visit the GER Projects Page.