Willemstad – Because the Atlantic hurricane season as of 01 June j. Has begun, Caribbean Defense is preparing for emergency relief in hurricane passages. A so-called Hurricane Exercise HUREX is currently being held. During this exercise, a realistic scenario takes place in which all aspects of an emergency relief operation pass the revue.
Providing military assistance in law enforcement, disaster relief or humanitarian aid is one of the main tasks of the Caribbean Defense. It’s complex logistics operations that require a lot of detail planning. Practicing it is therefore no unnecessary luxury.
Fictional Hurricane Pandora
The fictional hurricane Pandora is happily only on paper, but thanks to its arrival, the military on Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten can very carefully complete their preparatory processes. During a briefing, Mariners Savaneta on Aruba reports the staff in Curaçao in detail about the preparations made to travel to Saint Maarten within a few days with staff and resources. It is expected that Pandora will go household. The march attorney at St Maarten has consulted with the local disaster strike and reports that an application for assistance will be received. The first tools are prepared according to the commander on the spot.
Not imaginary
The exercise is done not only on paper. In the French part of Sint Maarten, soldiers have actually been in a hurry to practice an incident with many victims at Hotel La Belle Creole. The location fit well with the scenario of the practice, because the hotel was actually destroyed by Hurricane Luis in 1995.
In particular, Saint Maarten, Saint Eustatius and Saba are in an area where the risk of passage of a hurricane or tropical storm is high. In October last year, Hurricane Matthew hit the area and directed in particular devastating damage in Haiti. With the exception of personnel and equipment of the Royal Navy at that time 450 tonnes of supplies and water have been delivered and many repair and construction work has been carried out. In 2015, the island of Dominica was hit by tropical storm Erika. Defense has been used to help the population in the flooded areas. In 2014 Hurricane Gonzalo raided St. Maarten. Fortunately, not too much damage, but the crew of the Marinesteunpunt Pointe Blanche in Sint Maarten has been used. In 2010, hurricane of the 3rd category Earl passed the island of Sint Maarten only 50 kilometers away. In 1999, hurricane Lenny swallowed the island for two days with hard winds and heavy rain. In 1996 Hurricane Luis made great devastation on the island.
More recently, the naval ship Hr.Ms. Van Amstel in 2005 help after the devastating hurricane Katrina. Hr.Ms. Van Nes and Mr. Ms. Pelican provided in 2007 emergency humanitarian relief to the population of the highly affected Nicaragua, Hurricane Felix. And in 2008, the navy provided military assistance on Saint Maarten after passage of Hurricane Omar.
Defense in the Caribbean thus has a rich experience in providing emergency relief in hurricane disasters. During the hurricane season, which runs from 1 June to 1 December, the staff of the Caribbean Navy Headquarters in the Caribbean (MHKC) on the Curaçao Marine Base Parasol, closely monitor the weather. Also during the exercise, the fictional hurricane Pandora is monitored, tracked the track and tracked the predictions. In the event of a threatening hurricane passage, the islands may file a request for military assistance and an emergency relief operation may be initiated.
People and resources
In an emergency relief operation, almost all resources that fall under the command of the Commander Naval Force in the Caribbean will be deployed. Of the Royal Navy ships present in the area, the station ship and shipping ship Zr.Ms. Pelican, to medical units. The Hurricane Emergency Aid Declaration, derived from the 32rd Naval Navy Naval Naval Navy Squadron in Aruba, to the Landmachtcompany’s construction and repair specialists stationed on Curaçao. The marines of the Navy Mission on St. Maarten help where possible with the latest emergency measures. From joining windows, filling jerrycans with water to transfer emergency supplies to shelters. During the hurricane passage, the mariners protect these shelters.
After the passage, the Hurricane Disease Assistance Unit, in collaboration with naval and crew personnel, will balance the damage and the necessary assistance. In addition, use is made of patrol aircraft of the Coast Guard. Wherever possible they are used to provide medical assistance and debris disposal. The military can also be deployed for the guard