Government plans to create a Department of Disaster Management, the House of Assembly heard this morning.

The department, comprising police and fire officers, will develop plans to deal with a range of possible disasters, Minister of National Security Wayne Caines told MPs.

Mr Caines said: “Whether or not the likelihood of some of these events is high should not prevent us from being prepared for them or discussing them as a community.

“This should include an understanding of what our initial actions should be to save out lives and the lives of our neighbours, should the unexpected occur.”

He said the government will introduce legislation to create the department because the Emergency Measures Organisation lacks a legislated statutory framework.

Mr Caines added: “This new Department will be immediately fit for purpose, relying on existing, experienced officers from the Bermuda Police Service and the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service.”

• To read Mr Caines’s statement in full, click on the PDF under “Related Media”.