British Forces On Standby To Help Caribbean After Storm Isaac

Britain’s Armed Forces are on standby to help British Overseas Territories as Storm Isaac barrels its way west through the Caribbean.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williams said: “I want to assure everyone in our Overseas Territories that our Armed Forces have been pre-positioned in the region and are absolutely prepared to help.

"We will be there to support during this hurricane season while still helping those whose lives were devastated by Irma and Maria to rebuild their lives and homes.”

Currently 1,000 service personnel are deployed or at high-readiness – including a contingent of from the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) troop who are on deployment in the Caribbean during hurricane season.

Captain Jonathan Cooke of 24 Commando Royal Engineers (24 Cdo RE) OC HADR Troop said: “Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Troop onboard RFA Mounts Bay is ready to assist residents on Montserrat.

"We have previously deployed to the island both in July and on Operation RUMAN last year and have gained a good understanding of the current status of the island and infrastructure in order to best support the island if required.”

The Governor of Monserrat, Andrew Pearce OBE, said the presence of British troops in the Caribbean was good news for the island:  

 “We are delighted to welcome this small team from the Armed Forces as we make our final preparations for the approaching storm.  I am also particularly reassured that if we need her, RFA Mounts Bay is ready to respond.”

Last year’s hurricane season resulted in loss of life and widespread destruction of property and infrastructure.

Whilst the British Government’s initial response was praised as “swift and strategic” by the Government of Anguilla, a report by the Foreign Affairs Select Committee said, “there are a number of lessons to learn” and that the overall response lacked strategy.

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Mounts Bay arrived at Anguilla within two days but it took HMS Ocean two weeks to arrive with its joint military task force.

The chair of the committee, Tom Tugendhat, said: “Ministers need to offer the UK’s Overseas Territories a more structured response in any such future event.”

The Foreign Office said that lessons from last year’s hurricane season had been learnt:

"We have looked back at our response and drawn on the lessons learned to bring in improvements to our approach to managing catastrophic events in UK Overseas Territories.

"An inter-ministerial group has been established to ensure sustained recovery and reconstruction response and we are working closely with territory governments to better prepare for the coming hurricane season."