In a strategic move to decentralize emergency management, Antigua and Barbuda’s National Office of Disaster Services (NODS) is deploying a network of District Disaster Command Centres constructed from repurposed shipping containers. This nationwide initiative aims to embed robust coordination and communication capabilities directly within local communities.
The innovative centers are being built using 20-foot storage containers mounted on concrete columns, which are then custom-fitted for operational use. NODS has already acquired nine such containers, with ongoing placements across various districts. The ambitious target is to establish a dedicated center in each of the nation’s 17 designated disaster districts, including the island of Barbuda.
This infrastructure project represents a significant enhancement to community-level resilience by creating permanent facilities for disaster planning and response activities. These centers will serve as operational hubs for District Disaster Committees to collaborate with critical stakeholders and execute localized emergency protocols.
A operational model exists in the St. John’s Rural East District, where a completed command center on Hawkins Drive in Cassada Gardens became operational on June 22, 2023. This facility now functions as the permanent headquarters for district committee operations and community planning activities.
NODS Director Sherrod James emphasized the strategic value: ‘These dedicated command centres dramatically expand our capacity to reach affected populations directly, conduct targeted training programs, and maintain permanent operational presence in communities.’
The project receives financial backing through the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) Country Directed Fund. NODS is collaborating with the Ministry of Works, the Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA), and other essential entities to ensure timely completion and operational readiness of all centers.