The Disaster Management Coordination Agency (DMCA) would like to thank and applaud the agencies involved in the successful search and rescue operation of Mrs Catherine “Helen” Frederick on Thursday, May 27th, 2021.

Mrs Frederick was found around 11: 55 am in the Belham Valley area, below the Isle Bay Plantation after 36 hours of searching.

The agencies involved were the Montserrat Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS), the Royal Montserrat Defence Force (RMDF), Montserrat Customs and Revenue Service (MCRS), Royal Montserrat Police Service (RMPS).

The DMCA would also like to commend and thank Mr Alfred Ryan and his dog Judah, Duren Brade and Lydia Ryan for their assistance in the search and rescue mission as well as all the volunteers involved for the role they played.

Operations and Logistics Officer at the DMCA, who is also, a Second lieutenant in the Royal Montserrat Defence Force (RMDF), led the Defence Force’s search and rescue team.Mr White says he’s heartened and grateful for the team effort and the commitment shown by all those involved in the search and rescue operations.

He says this follows on the heels of a recent search and Rescue pre-hurricane training initiative hosted by the DMCA, MFRS and DMCA on May 20th and 22nd.

The training involved search resources, phases, and techniques that played a crucial role in today’s search and rescue efforts.Montserrat Search and Rescue has a rich history dating back to 1996; a year after the eruption of Soufriere Hills Volcano. Mr White is seeking the commitment of all to ensure this rich legacy continues to ensure Montserrat has a vibrant, search and rescue presence on Montserrat.

The DMCA also provided drone footage in the search and rescue operations in the areas of Bashan Ghaut, Belham Valley and Foxes Bay. The drone footage was done by DJI Drone Operator, Theodore Phillip.

Meanwhile,The DMCA would like to make special mention of Mr Alfred Ryan and his dog Judah and applauds both of them for a job well done in the search and rescue operations today.

Mr Ryan who works for the Ministry of Health should be commended for his skills and ability in training his dog Judah in locating missing people which is critical in search and rescue operations.Mr Ryan, a competent dog trainer saw the gap and trained his 20-month old dog Judah (a Belgium Melinois) to search and find missing people.

A lovely day on the Emerald Isle; partly cloudy with a moderate chance of showers.

Remember, the weather can change at a moment’s notice, Stay Ahead! Events such as flash floods can occur with little or no warning due to prolonged rain, rain showers in the higher elevations and the soil already saturated!

Despite the intermittent showers, it’s a beautiful, windy and cool day on the Emerald Isle. Mostly sunny with a 30% chance of showers today.

Remember, the weather can change at a moment’s notice, Stay Ahead! Events such as flash floods can occur with little or no warning due to prolonged rain, rain showers in the higher elevations and the soil already saturated!

Disturbance1( Invest 90L), a low NE of Bermuda is likely to become a subtropical cyclone later today. It has a 90% chance of development in the next 48 hours.

Disturbance 2, in the Gulf of Mexico, could become a short-lived tropical depression/storm before moving inland over the NW Gulf coast. It has a 40% chance of development in the next 48 hours.

Note: For the past 6 years (2015-2020) at least one named storm has formed in the Atlantic prior to the official start of hurricane season on June 1.

The Hurricane Season is less than two weeks ago, are you prepared? Now is the time to assess your risks, review your hurricane plans and ensure your emergency preparedness kit is in order and up to date.

A beautiful day on the Emerald Isle; mostly sunny throughout the day and a slight chance of showers tonight.

Remember, the weather can change at a moment’s notice, Stay Ahead! Events such as flash floods can occur with little or no warning due to prolonged rain, rain showers in the higher elevations and the soil already saturated!

Regardless of whether or not there are 20 named storms this year or 10, it only takes one storm or hurricane to be impactful.

Therefore, you must start preparing for this year’s hurricane season now.Assess your risks, review your hurricane plans and ensure your emergency preparedness kit is in order and up to date.

An absolutely beautiful day on the Emerald Isle today; partly sunny today.

Remember, the weather can change at a moment’s notice, Stay Ahead! Events such as flash floods can occur with little or no warning due to prolonged rain, rain showers in the higher elevations and the soil already saturated!

The official start of the 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season is less than a month away; the DMCA continues to stress the importance of early preparation to help reduce the impact of storms and hurricanes on our lives, communities and businesses.

Photo Courtesy: NOAA, NHC.

Today, partly cloudy skies with a moderate chance of brief passing showers due to a ridge of high pressure in our area!

Remember, the weather can change at a moment’s notice, Stay Ahead! Events such as flash floods can occur with little or no warning due to prolonged rain, rain showers in the higher elevations and the soil already saturated!

Seas, moderate, waves up to 5.4 feet or 1.7 metres!

Winds, fresh to strong, easterly, 17 to 25 knots!

Remember, Think about boat safety and plan your trip before you go. Knowledge and planning reduce the risks and increase the fun. Always tell someone where you will be going, when you expect to return, and what your boat looks like. Keep in mind that there might not be cell phone coverage where you are heading!