The Embassy of the United States, on 28 February 2018, donated to the Center of Emergency Operations (COE) equipment and supplies for the handling dangerous substances. This equipment will allow personnel from the COE to carry out decontamination processes in the event of chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear contamination. The equipment was received by General Juan Manuel Mendez the long term head of the COE.
The donation is worth approximately US$500,000 and consists of purifiers, decontamination showers for both chemical and radioactive substances as well as HAZMAT suits and related equipment.
Acting US Ambassador Robert Copley noted that the United States and the COE have worked together for years. He noted that over the last three years the disaster agency has become one of the major centers for disaster relief in the region. He said that the integration of meteorological tools as well as planning have allowed the COE to obtain a better knowledge of how certain areas will be affected and where they should locate their assistance teams.
Copley explained that in 2016 and 2017, hurricanes Matthew, Irma, and Maria did not cause greater damage because of the actions by the COE and the inter-agency groups it coordinates. Preventive actions focused on protecting the lives of the Dominicans in the affected areas.
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El Dia
1 March 2018
