2021 has been a very active year in Barbados as it relates to hazards. Feeling the impacts as early as January, the island faced drought, dust haze, volcanic ashfall and a hurricane. Of course this all took place in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.  

These events have all increased the workload of emergency response organizations; particularly the Department of Emergency Management (DEM). We therefore decided to close this year of Real Talk in the Face of Danger with a behind-the-scenes look at the work of the Department during 2021, featuring guest speaker Kerry Hinds, DEM Director.