The Bermuda Red Cross is gearing up to become the Island's main disaster response unit after the US Navy pulls out in May, the organisation's director said this week.

And he predicted Bermudians would be in a good position to handle any natural or man-made catastrophe that may arise in the future.

"The disaster preparedness programme continues to make steady progress,'' Mr.

Frank Gamble told the local Red Cross' 30th annual general meeting.

"Our disaster coordinator, Mr. Denis Brookes, attended the National Hurricane Conference in March (and) has put together a small group of volunteers to form a Disaster Resource Team who will work with Government's Emergency Measures Organisation if required.'' Mr. Gamble, whose organisation had a budget of $109,800 in 1994, also reported that the Red Cross has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the EMO which guarantees that "emergency supplies from the British Red Cross warehouse in London and the American Red Cross warehouse in Washington will be available to Bermuda should the need arise''.

The Bermuda Red Cross is a branch of the British Red Cross Society, which is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year.

Although it was active during the First and Second World Wars, the local chapter didn't become an official entity until 1950.

Last year, the Bermuda Red Cross demonstrated that it could respond to a major crisis effectively by raising more than $57,000 for Rwandan relief.

That amount was matched by Government and forwarded to the British Red Cross in London.

Locally the Red Cross is preparing for any homegrown disasters by educating children on hurricane preparedness and working with the Seventh Day Adventist churches on the setting up of emergency evacuation shelters.

Many of the functions that are commonly demanded in a disaster situation were performed under Emergency Measures agreements by the US military, Mr. Gamble said.

He added that the enhanced role of the Red Cross after the Americans pull out this spring has been recognised at the EMO with the awarding of a seat on its central committee to Mr. Brookes, a former Policeman.

Lady Waddington, meanwhile, this week commended the Red Cross for the years of service it has provided on the Island.

Serving as the guest speaker at its general meeting at the Peace Lutheran Church in Paget, the Governor's wife praised the variety of services that the Red Cross provides and the selflessness with which its volunteers provide it.

"The Red Cross here is in tremendous good heart,'' Lady Waddington said. "It can be extremely proud of the many good works that its volunteers do.'' In addition to promoting disaster preparedness, the Red Cross also provides AIDS and HIV education, performs various services for the elderly and physically challenged and manages the Island's only blood bank.

Last year, the general meeting was told, the Red Cross collected a total of 2,192 units of blood for King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

The organisation also presented a donation to the hospital's extended care unit.