The Barbados Meteorological Service (BMS) has urged residents and visitors to brace for heavy rainfall over the next few hours and has issued a flash-flood warning for the island until 6 p.m.
A flash-flood warning is issued when rapid flooding due to heavy or excessive rainfall in a short period of time (generally less than six hours) is occurring or is imminent in the warning area.
Director of the Department of Emergency Management (DEM), Kerry Hinds, is urging people to heed the warning and ensure that they put all necessary safety measures in place.
Hinds urged those living in flood-prone areas to have their “go bags” ready in the event that they may have to leave their homes for safety, and cautioned drivers against attempting to drive through rapidly rising flood waters.
“Remember, we are now in the most active part of the hurricane season and we must stay alert and have our disaster plans in place,” she said.
Hinds added that all stakeholders, including her department, the District Emergency Organisations, and other emergency response agencies, were also on the alert and stood ready to assist anyone who may require assistance.
The DEM director reminded people who found themselves in difficulties to contact the emergency services, or the DEM at 438-7575, to report damage to their homes.
Earlier today, the BMS indicated that rainfall accumulations of 40 mm to 100 mm of heavy showers are expected across the island throughout the day.
The BMS said that the effects of the imminent weather include strong runoff from higher elevations and soil erosion on bared or scarred land surfaces. Debris such as small rocks, mud, and tree foliage could end up on roads and property. The Met Office also cautioned that traffic delays are likely and flooding at the foot of hillsides and coastal roads is also possible.
Residents and visitors are urged to monitor the situation closely via official updates from the BMS over the next four to five hours. To do so, they may log on to the website of the Barbados Meteorological Service, the website of the Department of Emergency Management, or the social media pages of the two agencies, or download the CAP app to their mobile phones. (BGIS)
