Coordinator for Disaster Preparedness in

Westmoreland, Hilma Tate, says Community Disaster Plans are being prepared for

several flood-prone areas in Savanna-la-Mar.

She explained that the plans are being drafted out of a need to improve disaster risk management in the town, particularly at Hudson Street, Cooke Street, and Llandilo.

Tate further indicated that the plans will

outline the history of the areas as well as the resources needed at the

community level to ensure quick response in the event of flooding, fire,

earthquake, hurricane and more.

“It is going to look at the different

phases and stages of a disaster… before, during and after; what is needed to be

done before as a community, what they need to do during and what they need to

do after,” Tate told JIS News.

“As a municipal corporation, we can only

receive information… the communities themselves have to learn how to be

resilient enough to bounce back quickly. So, they must know what they are

doing,” she added.

Tate noted that the parish has a disaster

plan, which is revised yearly, and the contact list for the parish is regularly

updated.

She said that the parish and community

disaster plans seek to ensure that individuals are aware of the course of

action to be taken during a catastrophe.

“Because of climate change, different

events can happen from time to time and unexpectedly, and so [residents] need

to be prepared for these events and be able to keep themselves and their

families safe. We need to be prepared,” she stressed.

On Tuesday (January 7), the Westmoreland

Municipal Cooperation conducted a flood simulation exercise involving Hudson

Street, Cooke Street and Llandilo.

The exercise was aimed at preparing

residents to respond to flooding and other natural disasters.

The initiative forms part of the Climate Change Adaptation and Risk Reduction Technology and Strategies to Improve Community Resilience (CARTS) Project.

— JIS.