K1 Britannia Foundation

K1 DIRECT – Disaster Relief & Crisis Team, is a voluntary response team under K1 Britannia. With our current core team established on St. Maarten and in Curacao, we are prepared to assist in ocean-related disasters in the Caribbean Region. We endeavor to mobilize before hurricanes strike to assist countries immediately before, during, and post-disaster.

K1 Direct has assisted in the following disasters and emergency situations:

• Hurricane Irma, St Maarten (September 2017)
• Hurricane Maria, Dominica (October 2017)
• Hurricane Dorian, Bahamas (September 2019)
• COVID-19 Pandemic, St Maarten (March 2020 – Present)
• Haiti Earthquake (August 2021)

K1 Direct is comprised of Core and Support volunteers, who are trained and equipped to be deployed to assist in disaster management and response throughout the Caribbean region. K1 Direct members are trained in crisis management, emergency medicine, registration in emergencies, data collection, information management, public relations, psychosocial support, organization and distribution of relief goods, shelter management, emergency logistics, and more.  K1 Direct is also equipped with the logistics, supplies, equipment and regional partnerships needed to be effective in immediate relief.

K1 Direct maintains dialogue with countries throughout the Caribbean, as due to the unexpected and chaotic nature of disasters, our experience has taught us that the more pre-planning and dialogue there is between Governments and Relief Organizations, the more effectively and smoothly relief operations can be carried out in times of crisis

We have seen the intensity and regularity of major natural disasters growing and the increasing need for trained first responders to be on ground both before and immediately after disaster strikes. As such, we are continuing to expand K1 Direct’s reach and capacity, both within the Caribbean region and internationally.