NODS training program in progress (photo by Everton Barnes)
The National Office of Disaster Services (NODS) is ramping up community-level emergency preparedness through a series of training programmes for its volunteers across Antigua and Barbuda.
This week, 25 participants from several districts began a four-day Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) training session at NODS headquarters.
The programme, which started on Monday, equips volunteers with essential skills in disaster management, fire safety, search and rescue, and telecommunications, including VHF radio use.
The training follows similar sessions held in November, which ran over three consecutive weekends, as well as a one-week CERT programme in Barbuda last week that trained 20 participants.
During the Barbuda visit, NODS Director Sherrod James met with members of the Barbuda Council to strengthen collaboration and build capacity in disaster management. Attending the meeting were Council Chairman John Mussington, Chairman for Health and Disaster Wayde Burton, and Council Secretary Shari Cannegieter.
NODS training program in progress (photo by Everton Barnes)
NODS staff also helped outfit the newly constructed Barbuda Disaster Office with critical equipment and supplies to support emergency operations on the island.
I’m impressed that even though the hurricane season is over NODS remains actuve