The programme “A Familiar Walk…Hurricane Preparedness 2020” will be encouraging Bahamians to prepare for the Atlantic Hurricane Season while dealing with COVID-19.

“Even as our country is focused on the coronavirus pandemic, it is wise for us to remember that the hurricane season is upon us, and we should be preparing as a Nation for an above-average season” Executive Producer/Host of the programme, Mr. Mario Newry.

When you think of the tens of thousands of people who has been affected by Hurricane Dorian during the Hurricane Season 2019 and how both Abaco and Grand Bahama has suffered major destruction…you can only imagine how worst it could have been if we did not prepare.

With this thought in mind, Mr. Newry began working on his Hurricane Preparedness Programme 2020 to assist his fellow Bahamians throughout the archipelago of the importance of being prepared despite our present health challenges due to the Coronavirus.

The Annual Special Guests of the programme are Ms. Caroline Turnquest, Director General of the Bahamas Red Cross, Captain Stephen Russell, Director of the National Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Wayne Neely, Meteorologist and Author of the Department of Meteorology and Mr. Charles Johnson of J.S. Johnson Company Limited, Insurance Agents and Brokers, the Corporate Sponsor of the Programme.

The programme began with Mr. Charles Johnson, Senior Manager of J.S. Johnson and Company Limited, Insurance Agents and Brokers, thanking the panel for its effort to annually remind the country to prepare for the Atlantic hurricane season.

As the programme Corporate Sponsor, Mr. Johnson said that both he and Mrs. Stephanie Hanna of J.S. Johnson and Company Limited deem it a civic duty to do its part to make sure that every household in the Bahamas has the latest updates and information to be better prepared for the season ahead. Mr. Johnson then gave a brief outline of a Hurricane checklist, Insurance Reminders and past points of concerns were addressed for Bahamians to be even better prepared this year.

“The Bahamas Red Cross is working closely with NEMA and other inter-agencies to be prepared for Hurricane Season 2020”, said Ms. Caroline Turnquest, Director General of the Bahamas Red Cross. The Bahamas Red Cross would like to thank its many volunteers and donors who assist every year to make sure that they are ready every year to help Bahamians in times of despair.

Mr. Mario Newry then went into the Family Island segment of the show and invited Ms. Turnquest to explain how the Bahamas Red Cross was preparing throughout the year with Family Island administrators and making sure that our Family Islands are as prepared as the Nation’s Capital. This was further addressed with Captain Russell of NEMA and Mr. Neely of the Department of Meteorology.

Captain Stephen Russell’s motto during the show was “Building a disaster resilient Bahamas” which connected with The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) year theme.

Captain Russell during the programme explained the mission of NEMA and elaborated on the vision of his agency.

He said that NEMA anticipates the potential negative impacts before, during and after a hurricane season and develops effective plans, procedures and systems to minimize such impacts. He also spoke of the connected working relationships of the community participation and the productive inter-agency collaboration.

Meteorologist of the programme, Mr. Wayne Neely said, “warmer than average sea surface temperatures in the tropical Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, combined with reduced wind shear; increase the odds of an above-average hurricane season this year.”

Wayne Neely also explained the significance of the last destructive hurricane season and how we should continue to prepare to mitigate destruction in the upcoming hurricane season.

Mr. Newry ended the programme by thanking his special guests, sponsors, viewers and reminded them; “ As Bahamians focus their attention on a safe and responsible reopening of our country, it remains critically important that we also remember to make the necessary preparations for the upcoming hurricane season.”

The programme “A Familiar Walk”, has been on the air since March 2000 and it covers educational programmes like Hurricane Preparedness and documentaries featuring Bahamians who have impacted positively to the growth and success of the Bahamas.

The latest programme will be aired on June 1st, 2020 at 9:00 p.m. on Z.N.S. TV Network and updated versions will be aired throughout the hurricane season.

The attached photo was taken with the Hurricane Preparedness Programme Panel… left to right, Mr. Charles Johnson, Senior Manager, J.S. Johnson and Company Limited, Mr. Robert Bartlett, Manager, Customer Service, J.S. Johnson and Company Limited, Ms. Caroline Turnquest, Director General, The Bahamas Red Cross, Mr. Wayne Neely, Meteorologist, The Department of Meteorology, Mr. Mario Newry, Executive Producer/Host of “A Familiar Walk”, and Captain Stephen M. Russell, Director of the National Emergency Management Agency.