News
Minister urges TCI public to get ready for Hurricane Season
“Preparation should incorporate strategic planning for the safety of the elderly, infants, disabled and also your pets. Please ensure that you have all necessary resources available, including but not limited to food, water and medication, shutters and so forth. Remove all debris, and ensure that your property is free from any potential flying objects. Secure important documents and keep important numbers readily available. I once again appeal to you to prepare, because preparing is not an option, it is a must and it is the only thing we can do to reduce the impact of a disaster.”
A national address from his desk, using technology to remind the nation that the Disaster Management arm would prefer it if we got ready as readiness reduces risk. The National Hurricane Center has forecast a below normal season with six to 11 named storms predicted. Maybe three to six will become hurricane force and two could evolve to major hurricanes. Already the Atlantic Basin has recorded – pre-season – Tropical Storm Ana; currently the East-Pacific Basin is experiencing Tropical Storm Andres. Despite this forecast, residents do well to remember that it only takes one storm to wreak havoc; last year Tropical Storm Cristobal and his rains in late August shut the country down for two days, caused severe flooding, cut off communities in North and Middle Caicos, waterlogged homes, exposed a series of massive sink holes and led to a fierce spike in Dengue Fever and Chikungunya cases.
