Take Action Now to Ready for Hurricane Season says DDME Minister

By Dana malcolm 

Staff writer 

#TurksandCaicos, June 5, 2023 – “Building Resilience, Take Action,” is the theme of this year’s Atlantic Hurricane season from the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies, and Jamell Robinson, Minister of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development is encouraging residents to be ready and to abide by the law as opposed to Government having to force their compliance.

The theme and advice were both unveiled in the 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season Joint Press Conference on June 1st.

“The Caribbean is now experiencing a level of hurricanes and impacts we haven’t seen in a long time,” he said. “My personal motto is– it only takes one. We cannot let our guards down, we as residents must take the necessary precautions for the possibility of a major storm.”

Robinson, who is the minister with responsibility for the DDME, urged that it was never too early to prepare and residents should begin now if they haven’t already.  He laid out what those preparations should look like.

“Please do not forget you should have at least a three day supply of food and water.”

In addition to that, he said residents should now: Create an emergency family plan; secure their homes and clear surroundings of loose objects that can become missiles in heavy wind.

While the residents are expected to do this of their own free will, the Government does have the legal muscle to issue Orders to ensure safety and reduce risk.  Minister Robinson informed that TCIG will not shy away from using all resources available.

“There are Orders that you can issue to persons who don’t have their premises well kept– that goes beyond just littering– that is something we will be looking into in sort order particularly going into the hurricane season to make sure that properties that might have projectiles,” he continued, “we’ll encourage them to move those speedily– you can only ask so often before you have to utilize law.”

“We can’t risk other people’s lives because of dereliction of duties of some.

Also unveiled at the event was a jingle borne of a Caribbean-wide initiative encouraging residents to be “Disaster Fighters.” Residents from The Bahamas, Grenada, Haiti, and more were featured on the track.

Attending the June 1 press event were: Allison Gordon, Director of DDME; Dr. Holly Hamilton Director of the TCI Meteorological Service; Garvin Thomas, Director of Public Works and Deputy Permanent Secretary of PPID and Adrian Malcolm, Assistant Development Control Engineer from the Department of Planning.