EMERGENCY RESCUE personnel have expressed fear that the search and rescue operation they simulated in the Bissex/Park’s Hill area in St Joseph on Wednesday might become a reality in the future.
According to them, the eastern district and other parts of the Scotland District are “dangerous” and pose “tremendous threats to those who live there, especially during the hurricane season”.
“I think it would be in their interest if some of these people vacate the premises, because of the danger that it really poses,” station officer of the Barbados Fire Service, Henderson Patrick, told the WEEKEND NATION as the simulation was drawing to a close on Wednesday evening.
“I believe that some people [have left] in the past because of the danger that it . . . poses. On the other hand, there are people that have been living here for many years and it is difficult to get it into their minds that they have to leave their property.”
Four houses in the area were used for the exercise, which was organised by the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) and included the Barbados Fire Service, the Royal Barbados Police Force and the Roving Response Team. He took the WEEKEND Nation team behind one of the houses, which faced severe land slippage.
Exercise coordinator Lieutenant Mark Peterson of the BDF also noted that some houses were propped up by stakes, and the land has slipped down the hill.
“Being susceptible to water regressing into the land over a period of time, it is possible that these houses could slip in the dead of the night and then we would have to effect rescues at any time . . .,” he added.
In addition, Patrick recalled that there was talk in the past of relocating residents, but said it might be not be feasible.
“The practicality of it is probably not realistic . . . because it is a large area and a lot of people are living in the area . . . [but] this area for sure does have some special challenges.”
The training exercises continued today at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in urban search and rescue and at the Belle Pumping Station, with emphasis on security fortification. (LW)
