Be prepared for the hurricane season.
Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley gave the reminder to Barbadians last night during an address to the nation, in which she brought them up to date on various pieces of legislation before the Houses of Parliament and other accomplishments “while the island revelled and recovered from the revelry” of the Crop Over season.
Mottley said she prayed no hurricane or storm came near to Barbados – and invited others to do the same – but said the country must still prepare “with calm and with care”.
She noted: “Preparedness is not panic. It is a quiet habit of a sensible and caring nation. Our district emergency organisations are updating their parish lists even after the hurricane season starts.
“I’m therefore asking you to help them to continue to register seniors who may be living alone or other vulnerable persons who are in need of assistance if the weather ever tests us. We know who may need shelter and who must be checked first when the all clear comes, but sometimes there are gaps in our information and this is where you play the difference.”
Mottley said this simple act could save lives.
At the national level, Government was also mobilising. The hurricane shelters are available, if needed, and the first responders keeping in practice.
“Our utilities, the Barbados Water Authority and the Barbados Light and Power, have over the years strengthened their resilience and restoration plans each season. This is how a small nation in a large ocean protects its own people,” Mottley said.
The National Hurricane Centre in Miami is predicting an above normal season with 13 to 19 total named storms. Of those, six to 10 are forecast to become hurricanes, including three to five major hurricanes. (SAT)
