2016 ROTARY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION

GRAND BAHAMA EMERGENCY

WATER RELIEF FOUNDATION

2016 ROTARY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION

A ROTARY INTERNATIONAL PROJECT

IN FREEPORT, BAHAMAS Districts 7020, 5280 & 6990

WHERE IS FREEPORT, BAHAMAS ?

The storm that started the idea

Importance of the facilityIn 2004 Francis, Jeanne, and Wilma in 2005, were devastating hurricanes which damaged many homes, businesses and infrastructure on Grand Bahama Island.

Storm surges sent salt water into existing fresh water wells; making the water undrinkable.

Electricity and potable water were unavailable for many days; some Grand Bahama inhabitants went as long as 3 to 6 weeks without clean water and electricity

Purpose and functionTo be able to manufacture and distribute drinking water to those in need after a natural disaster interrupts normal supply.

The storms caused major destruction island wide

Devastated homes

Wiped out buildings, schools and businesses

Hurricane Francis flooded the airport

This is the causeway that cuts off 25,000 people from the hospital and essential services.

Hurricanes make this causeway impassable

The Wheel started to turn

Meanwhile thousands of miles away in California

Myles Pritchard, a Bahamian who is a member of The Rotary Club of Santa Monica, California, U.S.A. contacted Barry Rassin in the Rotary Club of East Nassau, Bahamas (Myles’ old club) stating that his club wanted to do a project in the Bahamas involving water.

At the same time in the Bahamas

A Rotarian was the CFO of the TK Foundation, a local charitable trust based in Nassau which was looking for a Rotary partner to create a facility that could respond

proactively rather than reactively to assist the island suffering with water shortages after a storm cuts off local supply. They needed a local partner to ensure that the project would be sustainable.

Rotary Was the natural choice !

Legal framework • The Grand Bahama Emergency Water Relief Foundation was formed. This protects the Directors and Rotarians from liability.

• Grand Bahama Port Authority Licensee

To carry on the business of an emergency only production and free distribution of clean drinking water from a reverse osmosis plant for water relief during and post emergencies and disasters to the needy in Grand Bahama and elsewhere in the region.

• Ability to import Duty Free goods and supplies

Project FundingSource of Funds Amount• D 7020 DDF (District designated funds) $ 25,000• D 5280 DDF (District designated funds) $ 6,250• Rotary Foundation 100% match $ 31,250

• D 5280 – Rotary Club of Santa Monica $ 6,500• Rotary Foundation Match (50%) $ 3,250

• D 5280 – Additional Rotary Clubs $ 15,167• Rotary Foundation 50% match $ 7,583

• TOTAL ROTARY FUNDS $ 95,000 • TK Foundation matching grant $ 122,610

TOTAL FUNDS FOR PROJECT $ 217, 610

This is a perfect example of your Club’s Foundation contributions coming back to the club for your use!

Disclosure to RI during the grant process

• During the grant application, and after the grant has been approved, there are requirements of regular communication and evidence of proper financial stewardship and reporting.

• Each grant is assigned a contact at RI who deals with that particular grant.

• Grants must be closed out in order for the club to qualify to apply for another. In fact the district cannot apply for any new grants with an open grant still in the system.

Rotarians working on the grant and getting paid

MUST BE DISCLOSED IN ADVANCE

So what did we get for $217,610?

Hurricane proof building

REVERSE OSMOSIS MACHINE

• 7,500 GPD capacity

• Fully automatic

• Self cleaning weekly

• Draws water from its own well

• No proprietary parts.

• 20 KW Diesel generator

• 90 hours fuel capacity

• Extra fuel stored inside the plant additional 150 hours

Emergency power

5500 gallons storage

Everything we need in a response is stored inside the building.

Distribution 10 water trailers Used to fill fixed tanks or park for self filling

Everything has Rotary on it! Make sure that the public knows this is Rotary at work!

Water quality (in total dissolved solids)

• The USEPA City water standard is 550 TDS/PPM

Total dissolved solids

in parts per million.

• We have been producing water between 16 to 19 TDS/PPM

Water maintenance

The tank is kept empty and filled when we have an approaching storm. Once water is stored in the main tank it is kept bacteria free with the

use of an ozone water treatment system.

Spare parts

• We have spare pre-filters to last up to five years• Every possible gauge, valve and electrical part that

could go wrong is in stock

• Spare belts and HP pump rebuild kit

• We have a credit at Watermakers Inc. for a new membrane should we need one in years to come (they have a shelf life)

Distribution centers• Walk up traffic to the plant

• Salvation Army Headquarters

• Red Cross Headquarters

• Established NEMA approved hurricane shelters (there were 12 last hurricane) Water will be in the shelters before the storm hits.

• Established churches on the island that we worked with in the last major storms

• Drive through affected areas with the pickup truck tanks and let residents fill their own jugs

Communications - Satellite Phone

• make calls worldwide

• send and receive text

messages

• receive voicemail

Observations from visitors to the facility

When past RI Director John Smarge visited the plant he made mention of how important it was that we had developed so many relationships with a variety of organizations. Not only were we in partnership with the local government and the National Emergency Agency, but we also had involved local industry, local utilities and other service organizations.

After past RI General Secretary Ed Futa visited he was impressed with all of the built-in redundancies to ensure reliability and sustainability. Every system has a back-up and parts are in stock. Rotaract is very involved in the maintenance and operation of the facility.

And then came Hurricane Sandy

The first real test of the plant

Airport flooded – again !

Almost anytime we have a hurricane pass on our east or north side we have flooding.

The Fishing Hole RoadThis road cuts off the western half of

the island from Freeport and the hospital when it floods

Downtown Freeport This is the road in front of the water and ice house

Water – Rotary at work !

Rotarians’ kids helping out.

They are learning ‘Service Above Self’ early

This is Rotary in action!

Rotarians at Work

TANK TRAILERS IN ACTIONWater was distributed in the eastern district and the affected neighborhoods

People filling jugs

Lessons learned from Hurricane Sandy• We felt it better to keep the public outside of the plant.• We wanted more redundancy in event the generator or

distribution pump failed.• We wanted ZNS or other radio piped outside so people

knew what was going on.• During the Sandy response we got hungry and sent a

Rotarian for pizza and it took 3 hours to get back and tasted like cardboard with tomato sauce. We wanted food and cooking facilities already in the plant before the storm.

• We felt that a refrigerator would be nice to keep stuff cold.• Everyone wanted to charge their cell phones.• Needed better first aid supplies and insect repellant.

Pre-storm communicationsWe discovered that WhatsApp was a very useful tool in communicating in real time to the entire group.

• For pre storm planning.• During the storm updates.• Post storm communications

Actions from lessons learned

Eight outside fill stations

Operated with electric pressure pump or gravity feed• This adds built-in redundancy in the event the generator fails.• Enables people to fill their own jugs.• Keeps people outside the building.

No more back breaking work!

Fridge, food and cooking facilities inside the plant

Better stocked First Aid kits and insect repellent

Estimated yearly budgetGB Port Authority License - $107.50Bi-annual lab water testing - $107.50Insurance (Fire/theft/public liability) - $2,000Power - $750Generator maintenance (filters) -$90 Bahamas Government foundation -$500Unexpected expenses -$1,000

$4,555

Does this Club have a Disaster committee?• Who is the chairperson?• Do you have a contact list or WhatsApp group?• Do you have a community assessment team?• Do you have a pre and post plan in event

of a hurricane, tornado, earthquake?

Does your club have a Plan?• Do you have a community education program for your community?• Think about utilizing the resources of Interact and Rotaract in the

public school system.• Does your club have an emergency fund with money in it to purchase supplies or services before the emergency arises?• Perhaps create an annual fund raiser earmarked to fund the emergency

or disaster account.• Do you have a relationship with local suppliers for things like food, water and shelter (hotels/apartments)? Consider a membership drive towards those owners and managers of those companies. Get them to join the club and put them on the Disaster committee.

Join the DNA - Rotarian Action Group

• The Disaster Network of Assistance Rotarian Action Group

• This is a group of Rotarians concerned and actively involved with all kinds of disasters worldwide.

• Stop by their booth in the House of Friendship and speak with Dr. Leigh Readdy and learn more.