Belize Coast Guard Enhances Disaster Preparedness in Atlantic Hurricane Season

It’s been one month since the 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season commenced and many organizations continue to improve their state of readiness in the event of a storm. One such entity is the Belize Coast Guard. The organization was able to quickly mobilize to provide humanitarian aid following Hurricane’s destruction and say it has improved on its plan. BCG Commandant, Rear Admiral Elton Bennett, explained that the seamen are currently conducting training seasons geared at improving their disaster relief plan. 

RADM Elton Bennett, Commandant, Belize Coast Guard: “We look at where the organization is and the first thing that we need to do is to ensure that the Coast Guard can survive the hurricane so that when the hurricane passes we can deliver services to the country. So our first activity is to safeguard the Coast Guard and that means force protection in terms of identifying locations where we can safeguard our vessels so that’s the first step that we do and then we’re responsible for early warning. So these are routine requirements that the National Emergency Management Organization would require us to do. So it means updating the maritime community in terms of who is where from these small fishing camps at these remote and isolated locations, that is what we’re currently doing on exercise, getting out and to see who is where so we can have a network and know exactly how we can communicate and conduct evacuation of those remote locations. So it’s a continuous cycle, something that keeps us occupied and busy and ensure that we are able to provide that service when that time comes. Then of course, search and rescue is one of the big functions that we do in a hurricane. We have a search and rescue course that is pending so it’s continuous training and to ensure that the organization is capable.”