EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR of the Regional Security System (RSS), Captain Errington “Ricky” Shurland, says it is only a matter of time before Barbados is struck by a severe weather system, but to minimise this impact, the island must adopt a national building code.
His suggestion came out of a discussion hosted by the St John Ambulance Association as part of its 75th anniversary celebration. It was held at the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) headquarters, St Ann’s Fort, Garrison, St Michael, on Tuesday night.
He said the current training, construction and level of preparedness were charted for the island to withstand Category 3 hurricanes. However, he stressed that this must change because based on the severe weather systems over the last 15 years and future predictions, the storms would intensify and increase in numbers.
Having recently returned after he and his team spent several weeks visiting hurricane-ravaged countries like Dominica, Barbuda and Turks and Caicos Islands, Shurland told the gathering of the destruction to life and property that he saw first hand. (SDB Media)
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