NEMO advises locals to be prepared

Acting Director of the National Emergency Management Unit (NEMO), Michelle Forbes, is advising Vincentians to ensure that they are well prepared now that we are in the hurricane season.{{more}}

In an interview with SEARCHLIGHT on Wednesday August 18, Forbes indicated that NEMO will be continuing efforts to sensitize the public on how to be prepared.

Forbes noted that sessions on disaster preparedness will continue in different communities and when school re-opens in September. “This is the time we really encourage residents to ensure that plans are already in place in the event of a natural disaster,” she noted.

NEMO has been busy over the past few weeks as a result of the heavy rains that caused flooding at various points throughout the country. Since then, they have been conducting assessments on damage so that a report can be prepared for submission to Cabinet.

Forbes also indicated that NEMO continues to work with the Ministry of Education to ensure that they have all the persons listed to be emergency shelter managers to manage the 141 shelters throughout St Vincent for 2010.

Discussions have been ongoing over the past few weeks on finalising memorandums of understanding with supermarkets to ensure that they can provide the various shelters with food. However, Forbes says “People must remember that they must store at least three days food, because a particular emergency shelter can be cut off anytime during a hurricane or storm.”

“For us, it is not just about the Hurricane season alone, its about getting things done way before and during the hurricane season,” Forbes added.

In June of this year, a national public awareness programme on Hurricanes was conducted in a number of schools across the island.

The last week in August will see more discussions being held with two schools in Kingstown on how to prepare for not only hurricanes, but also for fires and bomb threats. (KW)