(CMR) Disaster relief specialists from HMS Medway came ashore at George Town Yacht Club and assisted with an island-wide cleanup following the passage of Hurricane Ian.
While HMS Medway remained offshore, the team traveled in on two Rigid Inflatable Boats, escorted by the Cayman Islands Coast Guard.
The military officers on board Medway are first responders who are able to support relief efforts following a disaster. They are engineers, port, and airport specialists, carpenters, electricians, and heavy machinery operators/drivers. While their expertise was not needed as the Cayman Islands was spared the worst of the storm, they still wanted to help.
“We were fortunate that the impacts of Hurricane Ian were not as bad as anticipated, but even so, Medway's personnel, accompanied by the Regiment and the MOD Team that deployed ahead of the storm, set to work today supporting the cleanup effort in George Town, South Sound, and the East End,” Governor Martyn Roper said.
Mr. Roper also revealed that the RCIPS helicopter is now safely back in Cayman after helping in Turks and Caicos after Hurricane Fiona. The Air Operations Crew met with HMS Medway just off North Sound and liaised with the pre-deployed MOD team while they were on island.
“The last few days have shown how joined up UK and Cayman assets are – all crucial in the run-up to and following a disaster. It has served as an excellent training exercise for both Cayman and our UK assets. It is greatly reassuring to see how the UK can come so quickly to our assistance if we need it,” Mr. Roper added.
HMS Medway has left the Cayman Islands but will remain in the region on standby for the rest of hurricane season.
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