| PAST BULLETINS |
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| CHARLESTOWN, Nevis: June 28th 2005 Following last week�s floods on Nevis, Premier Vance Amory is assuring Nevisians that his administration is continuing to look at some of the critical areas to determine what is to be done urgently to make some corrective and mitigative measures to minimise additional damage in the future. Premier Amory, who is the Chairman of the Nevis Disaster Management Committee, made the observation Thursday at the first meeting of the revised Disaster Management Committee that was held at the Red Cross Building, Chapel Street in Charlestown. In attendance were most of the committee members, among them four Permanent Secretaries. He informed the meeting that the Cabinet toured some of the worst hit areas last week and that he had received pictures taken of other areas affected by the floods by Mr Lester Blackett (Director of the Nevis Disaster Management Office), which the government must address in respect of the floods. �But this meeting goes beyond that,� observed Premier Amory. �We have to look at disaster preparedness and management and mitigation in its widest sense and nothing can be omitted from the oversight of the office. We take this seriously and I want to encourage each one of you to take your involvement in a committee of whatever type seriously.� He outlined that the meeting was not only to further advance and discuss certain important aspects of putting together a number of sub-committees, but also to ensure that the committee members were fully aware of what was expected of them as a committee and also what was expected of each person individually in event of a disaster. Director of the Nevis Disaster Management Office, Mr Lester Blackett, who chaired the meeting, said that eight sub-committees had been formed and part of the meeting was to discuss the sub-committees� composition, functions and formations. According to Mr Blackett, there will also be five district committees, one for each parish that will each be headed by a chairperson. The committees will also be set up at village levels. �There will be various committees in various villages so as to reach as many people as possible so as to get community support in the event of things like floods, as it is very difficult for Public Works Department and for other departments to go round the entire island, and also to go into each village in a short period of time,� commented Mr Blackett. To make those committees effective, Mr Blackett observed that the Nevis Disaster Management Office is proposing that a cadre of volunteers be set up. The volunteers would in the event of a storm, hurricane, and floods call into the main disaster office, and would report in terms of what is happening in their particular areas. �From that point, we (the Nevis Disaster Management Office) should also operate as the emergency-operating centre, and we would then be able to communicate with all the departments and advise them in terms of what are the problem areas, what needs to be done and have them respond.� Island leaders prepare Nevis for natural and man-made disasters Friday, April 29, 2005 CHARLESTOWN, Nevis: The most comprehensive disaster management programme ever created for Nevis is in the process of being finalised after an intensive two-day workshop and seminar conducted by the Nevis Island Administration at the Red Cross Building. Dozens of government officials and community representatives participated in the workshop directed by Lester Blackett, director of the Nevis Disaster Management Committee. Mr. Blackett said the purpose of the workshop was to "review and update the 1989 Nevis Disaster Plan" created after the damage wreaked in this area by Hurricane Hugo. Premier Amory According to Mr. Blackett, the key word is "inclusion," meaning everyone -- not just government officials or management -- must be included if a disaster management effort is to work to benefit all the people. Topics covered were wide-ranging, from early warning systems when applicable, to emergency supplies, shelters, search and rescue, food distribution and training of disaster management workers and volunteers. "The importance of this workshop cannot be oversized, given the vulnerability of our area to natural as well as man-made hazards," said Mr. Blackett. Among potential disasters covered by the workshop are hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, landslides, floods, droughts, tidal waves, storm surges, major fires, power failures, civil strife and epidemics. The hurricane season begins officially June 1 and runs through November 30, but in the past hurricanes have occurred outside this time period. Speakers at the opening session Tuesday were Vance Amory, Premier and Chairman of the Nevis Disaster Management Committee; Carl Hebert, National Disaster Coordinator for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA); Floyd Robinson, Engineer-Manager of the Nevis Water Department; Venetta Hobson-Moving, Permanent Secretary of the Premier's Ministry; Astona Browne, Permanent Secretary for National Security, Justice, Immigration and Labour, St. Kitts; and Mr. Blackett. Mr. Amory strongly recommended that all sectors and ministries in Nevis involve themselves in the programme, pointing out that it is not a question of whether a natural or manmade disaster will strike -- only when. He said an ongoing public awareness programme would equip people as well as government officials with the knowledge and desire to do the right thing when a national disaster does occur. Pledging his full support to all those involved, Mr. Amory said, "You can have the best plan, but it is the implementation that counts." He urged those present to rely on their own experience and to use common sense to solve problems before they become unmanageable. After completing his remarks, Mr. Amory presented Llewellyn Newton, past Director of Disaster Preparedness and Management, with a special award for his years of service in the program. Workshop participants went through Disaster Plan 1989 paragraph by paragraph, making changes and additions where necessary. Some agencies that no longer exist were written out, and others penciled in, as the chain of command was broadened and finalized. Mr. Blackett said work on the disaster plan will continue through the end of May. All governmental and major private sector and service clubs have been asked to contribute their thoughts and suggestions to the plan. When the draft is finalised, it will be presented to the Office of the Premier for implementation. In 2004, a total of 33 hurricane shelters were approved by the government. Shelters include churches, schools, community centres and other buildings in protected areas. Under the plan, the public will be made aware of pending dangers by radio announcements over Radio ZIZ and VON Radio. Flags will also be raised at police stations and other location and church bells will be rung. When it is certain the island is out of danger from a hurricane or other major disaster, all clear signals, including a green flag with white diagonal stripe and audible sirens, will be delivered to the public. Non-governmental agencies asked to join the Disaster Management program include the Chamber of Commerce, Red Cross Society, Christian Council, Amateur Radio Club, CB radio Club, Cable & Wireless, Youth Council, Jaycees, Lions, Rotarians, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Cadets, Brigades and 4-H Clubs. |
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| Friday, July 15, 2005
Premier Vance Amory launching NDMO website Director NDMO - Lester Blackett CHARLESTOWN, Nevis: With the Hurricane Season 2005 predicted to be a very active one, the Nevis Disaster Management Office (NDMO) has begun its educational drive informing the populace of Nevis and the wider world on preparing for a disaster. During a brief ceremony on Tuesday July 12 at the Red Cross Building in Charlestown, Premier and Chairman of Nevis Disaster Management Committee, Mr. Vance Amory clicked the mouse to officially launch the Nevis Disaster Management Office Website and Brochure. �Ladies and gentlemen,� said Premier Amory with a smile. �I�m gonna click this button right, but I want us to bear in mind always that we are so vulnerable to storms that all of us must do what we have to do to mitigate it and this website is important. Thank you very much. I now launch this website by clicking this mouse.� He also gave the feature address where he reiterated the call for one to be prepared and to get as much knowledge as possible about hurricanes and natural disasters. He said, �The knowledge which you will find there should enable you, who are users of the internet to have that knowledge which you can use to enable you to prepare in your own division, personally and where you are in charge of a department or a private sector organization to become more aware of the information on natural disasters, primarily hurricanes with which we are dealing with at this time.� Premier Amory pointed out that the information received from the website would enable the government, through the Nevis Disaster Management Office, to be more adequately prepared and to be more aware of what ought to be done were the island to be struck by a hurricane. �I think we have had recent experiences and we know the level of dislocation which could be caused and it is my belief that with the knowledge which will appear on this website that we could be more adequately able to mitigate against disaster which might affect Nevis.� According to the Premier, the behaviour of hurricane/storm and the characteristic is very volatile and that it can change from hour to hour, from day to day. He observed, �Even though we might feel that a storm may not (at the last advisory affect us) there is nothing like having current information to determine what in fact is happening at the present moment.� He expressed that it was his Cabinet�s intention to increase the allocation of the office of the Disaster Management and added, �I believe that that department has a very critical role to play as we have seen in the last couple of months, the effects of flash floods, as we have seen in years gone by the effects of hurricanes and other flash floods and storms that the department has to respond very quickly. �It is my belief that we can strengthen the ability of that office to respond if we can supply that office with some dedicated tools and equipment which could be used to respond and to prepare because I believe in the preparation it would help to reduce the impact of flash floods, the impact of hurricanes provided we can put things into place in a timely manner,� he commented. Director of NDMO Mr. Lester Blackett who is also the webmaster gave an overview of the site. The website provides a vast collection of information such as the entire Nevis Disaster Plan which can be downloaded in sections, activities, bulletins, news items, weather forecasts, storm advisories, hazards and hazard tips/advisories, photo albums, databases, workshops/conferences, agencies, budget address for 2005, links to CEDRA, PAHO etc and soon to come a Chairman�s corner which will feature remarks by the Premier. |
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| 2nd September 2005 - Hurricane Shelter Management Workshops are a Big Hit
By Claudia Liburd (The Leeward Times) On Wednesday at 9:30am The Nevis Disaster Management Office held an opening ceremony for two-day workshop, which focused on Hurricane Shelters and Shelter Management. Mrs. Venetta Hobson-Moving, Permanent Secretary of Premier�s Ministry and human Resources gave the feature address for the short ceremony which lasted a mere half hour. The closing ceremony will be held on Thursday at 4pm after review discussions. Workshop facilitator Mr. Lester Blackett urged the general public to make disaster preparedness a priority and has said, �The workshop is very timely and necessary given the increased frequency of storms for the Caribbean region and given the effects of hurricane Katrina in the United States. It is therefore critical that our shelter managers be trained in all aspects of hurricane management including administration, operations and problem solving. We propose having additional workshops not only on shelter management but also on initial damage assessment, emergency operating center management and conducting simulations. In the next few weeks we hope to launch a disaster awareness week but will focus on a wide range of issues to ensure that the general public is as informed as possible on all aspects of disaster management. We want to encourage persons to go to the website of The Disaster Management Office which provides comprehensive information on all aspects of disaster management.� The atmosphere of the workshop was very harmonious and while speaking the The Leewards Times, Marcella Jones an active community member who took part in the workshop said, �It exceeded my expectations and was excellent. The workshop was informative and enlightening and I must say in the few hours that I have been here I have learnt to appreciate a lot of the things I took for granted.� Additional information can be found at The Nevis Disaster Management official website www.geocities.com/odpnevis |
| 2nd September 2005 - Don�t Wait�Natural Disasters Don�t Discriminate
By Claudia Liburd (The Leeward Times) Through the love of God, the hurricane season has been without incident thus far; however come September things may dramatically change. May storms are anticipated for later in the hurricane season. To this extent The Public Information and Education Sub-Committee held a meeting on Monday August 22nd which convened at 1pm to discuss the roles and responsibilities of members as it relates to disaster management options in Nevis. Mr. Lester Blackett, Director of The Nevis Disaster Management Office, chaired this meeting which was held in The Red Cross Building which is located on Chapel Street, Charlestown. Projected plans include the organization of an ongoing public awareness and education program to educate the public on the different types of disasters as well as the preventative measures to be taken. This will subsequently allow the general public to obtain a more conclusive knowledge about disaster management. There was great focus on the dissemination of information before, during and after a disaster as well as alerting the population of any impending disaster and precautionary measures to be taken. The initiation of disaster awareness week/month is also to be implemented with a focus day in which will be used to educate people on the ill effects of natural disaster. This is in turn is anticipated to boost community involvement. The committee hopes to get persons of all different walks in life involved in the process and by so doing arrange the training of disaster personnel at all levels such the Nevis Air and Sea Port Authority, Co-ordination with The Fire Department for flooding assimilation exercise and The Environment and Conservation Society. Service providers such as Digicel, Cingulair and Cable and Wireless are urged to market car phone adapters for use during the hurricane season when people are unable to use ground lines, liaising with Culturama calypsonians who can create lyrics which would sensitize the public about disaster preparedness as well as Government Press and Public Relations who can assist with the production of weekly programs which aim at public education and play wrights are invited to produce plays concerning disaster preparedness, Bearing in mind the reopening of schools on the 5th of September, suggestions for the creation of materials for children included the inclusion of disaster preparedness on the school curriculum as well as other ideas that can be used in schools such as puppet shows, �find the storm� puzzles, and essay competitions. The meeting was held with the intention of alerting local media houses about their roles and responsibilities in the dissemination of information in the event of a disaster. At this meeting, a newsletter subcommittee was selected and will convene on Friday afternoon at 1:30pm to commence discussion of innovative, fresh ideas for the upcoming newsletter. |
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