Disaster Assistance Centres Open

Finding information in the days after Ivan can sometimes be difficult. Hoping to create a “clearing house of information” the first Disaster Assistance Centres (DACs) opened on Wednesday 10 November in George Town and Bodden Town. These centres are operated by government under the Cayman Islands Recovery Operation and are located in all five districts across the island.

Dr. Deborah Surat, special projects coordinator for the Department of Children and Family Services manages the centres, she emphasizes they are designed as a one stop distribution point for public information and are manned by trained staff. “The purpose of the DACs is to help determine what needs are in the community and how government can best respond to these needs,” said Dr. Surat.

Earlier this week, thirty-six staff and several volunteers attended training clinics in preparation for the centre’s opening. Staff will be familiar with public health and safety issues, counselling services available and can assist with health and dietary needs. They are also able to assist individuals fill out forms for vehicle and home insurance and financial assistance.

Centres will be open Monday to Friday from 12 noon to 6 pm except on holidays. Note that the DACS will be closed on Remembrance Day, 15 November and for the day of Praise and Thanksgiving on Wednesday 17 November.

George Town’s DAC is located in the Compass Building on Shedden Road, near the Bank of Butterfield. Space for Bodden Town’s DAC was donated by MLAs Gilbert McLean and Roy Bodden in their MLA office in Bright Days Plaza. On Friday 12 November three more DACs will open In North Side at the United Church, in East End at the District Health Clinic and in West Bay at the Town Hall.