CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (JUNE 09, 2009) -- The 2009 Tropical Atlantic Hurricane season commenced from June 01 but Director of the Nevis Disaster Management Department Mr. Lester Blackett said the importance of preparedness could never be overemphasised.
In a recent interview with the Department of Information, Mr. Blackett said though the season was forecast to be less active than in recent years, it was important that the people of Nevis and rest of the Atlantic belt be prepared for this hurricane season and should guard against complacency.
“We want to ask persons not to become complacent we have had some complacency setting in over the years. We had hurricanes in the 90’s and the early 2000’s and after a while everybody says ‘maybe they giving us a break’. I think Omar last year indicated that we should not be complacent. We are still feeling the effects of [Hurricane] Omar as a result of the closure of the Four Seasons Hotel.
“So it behoves us to be ready to be cautious, to listen to the announcements on the radio and television, to listen to the announcements from the Nevis Disaster Management Department and from time to time, we will be giving you updates,” he said.
Mr. Blackett pointed to one notable change in his Department’s dissemination of information. A revamped website www.geocities.com/odpnevis provides daily weather forecasts, hurricane tips and the list of hurricane shelters.
He said it was also important to prepare family disaster and evacuation plans and business plans. The website provided printable sample plans.
“The disaster plan is important and it is necessary to not only have a family plan but to have a business plan for business owners. We have posted on our website some sample plans that you could go on and look at and if you need any assistance in terms of developing and tweaking those plans we will be more than happy to accommodate and assist you.
“We also have hurricane information in terms of homes and businesses that you can download and print and we have some fact sheet information with respect to tropical weather systems and fact sheets with respect to flooding,” he said.
If the internet was not accessible, Mr. Blackett said members of the public were free to visit the Department at the Llewellyn Newton Disaster Management Facility at Long Point for assistance. They would be furnished with brochures and additional information with respect to the hurricane season.
Mr. Blackett explained that for the current season, two of the five hurricanes which are expected, in terms of statistics, would develop into major storms of category three or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Scale of hurricane intensity. Major hurricanes he said had sustained winds of above 110 miles an hour.
“The long term average for the Atlantic Hurricane season is about 10 tropical storms which include six hurricanes and two major hurricanes and for this year the Colorado State University forecast team has reduced its Atlantic storm season prediction to 11 tropical storms including the five hurricanes.
“It should be pointed out that that is just a statistical information and it does not mean that you would in fact get 11 hurricanes you could get 8 you could get 15 hurricanes. As you would realise from a few years ago, the hurricanes actually went all the way through the alphabet until they had to use a contingency plan for naming of hurricanes. So that is what can actually happen or you can have a lesser intensity or lesser number of hurricanes,” he said.
The names issued for the 2009 Hurricane and Tropical Storm season are: Ana, Bill, Claudette, Danny, Erika, Fred, Grace, Ida, Joaquin, Kate, Larry, Mindy, Nicholas, Odette, Peter, Rose, Sam, Theresa, Victor and Wanda. The season officially concludes on November 30.
