NEMO on the move for Hurricane season
05.JUNE.09
by Don DeRiggs
The National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) has called all the major stakeholders involved with Disaster Management (DM) in this country to ensure that plans are in place to mitigate the effects of storms that can affect this multi-island state, but with particular emphasis on the up-coming hurricane season.{{more}}
On Tuesday, May 26, a half day National Audit of the DM mechanism was held at the Methodist Church Hall, where Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves was apprised of the status of all the support agencies and government departments, with regard to their state of readiness for this yearâs hurricane season.
Opportunities were also given for all stakeholders to voice any shortcomings with the view of remedying these before the start of the 2009 storm season.
The following day at the same venue, persons representing district disaster committees from throughout the state were engaged in a one day symposium, which looked in depth at the District Disaster Committee Plan for SVG and ensured that the document was relevant and practical to satisfy local needs.
In order to cover more ground in the limited time available, the gathering broke up into five working groups which looked at several areas of the plan, including what should be done before, during and after the impact of a hurricane. Each group reported on its findings during the plenary session. Chairing the meetings on both days was Director of NEMO, Howie Prince.
Also present at that symposium was Consultant Leslie Walling, who made a presentation with regard to grant funding from CIDA through the Canada Caribbean Disaster Risk Management Fund. Walling, during his presentation, outlined areas that can qualify for funding from the CCDRMF and left guidelines for accessing such funding. Funding for these projects is in the $20,000 CAN to $50,000 CAN range. Countries already benefiting from this grant fund include Guyana, Barbados and Jamaica, among others.
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