The Dominica Red Cross continues to work in communities around the island to build resilience, by promoting disaster risk reduction and early warning initiatives with the implementation of Community Disaster Response Teams (CDRT).

Ten residents from the community of Castle Bruce were recently trained in several areas to include: Climate Change, Elements of a resilient community, Damage & Needs Assessments (DANA), Temporary Shelter construction, Psychosocial Support, Light Search and Rescue, Firefighting, First Aid and CPR among other topics. At the end of the training sessions participants were provided with tools to assist in the mitigation and response activities in the community. Participants were also engaged in developing their own Community Hazard Map through the mapping of the hazards by conducting a walk through in the community and identifying the areas that are prone to hazards and identified evacuation routes in the event the need arises. A simulation exercise was also conducted at the end of the training to test the response mechanisms of the community.

At the Closing Ceremony held on November 7, 2024, the Parliamentary Representative for the constituency Hon. Octavia Alfred, congratulated the participants on their successful completion of the program and thanked the Dominica Red Cross for this significant contribution to the community in disaster management. Tools and equipment were also presented to the Village Council in support of the community’s response activities.