he Grenada Red Cross Society (GRCS) is taking proactive steps to strengthen community resilience with a Community Disaster Response Team (CDRT) Training in St. Patrick. This three-day intensive program, running from March 18th, 19th, and 22nd, 2025, is part of the ongoing Hurricane Beryl Project, aimed at equipping community members with the skills and knowledge to respond effectively in times of crisis.
A total of 27 participants are in attendance, representing various sectors of the community. They are undergoing hands-on training in disaster preparedness, emergency response, mental health and psychosocial support, fire safety, search and rescue operations, shelter management, and community assessment.
Throughout the sessions, expert facilitators from the Grenada Red Cross Society, NaDMA, the Royal Grenada Police Force, Childs protection Agency and other emergency agencies are guiding participants through real-world disaster scenarios. The training also includes a live simulation exercise, where participants will apply their newly acquired skills in a controlled emergency setting.
The goal? To ensure that local communities are ready to respond swiftly and efficiently when disaster strikes. With hurricanes and other climate-related events becoming more frequent and severe, programs like these play a critical role in disaster risk reduction and saving lives.
The Grenada Red Cross Society continues to stress the importance of community-based disaster preparedness, urging citizens to stay informed and take an active role in protecting their families and neighborhoods.
As the training continues into the weekend, organizers are hopeful that these 27 newly trained responders will serve as first-line defenders in their communities, strengthening Grenada’s overall disaster response capacity.
