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Posted: Thursday 18 July, 2024 at 10:02 AM

NEMA ramping up preparedness as Atlantic Hurricane Season nears peak

By: Jermine Abel, SKNVibes.com

    BASSETERRE, St. Kitts -- NATIONAL disaster response and emergency officials are being proactive in preparing for any eventual hurricane that could impact St. Kitts and Nevis, as the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season begins to reach its peak.

     

    To better understand the state of preparedness, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is currently holding a three-day simulation exercise to gauge the state of readiness of all stakeholders on both St. Kitts and Nevis.

     

    Local officials are taking lessons from the early devastation of Hurricane Beryl on St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada.

     

    During his interaction with the media, Abdias Samuel, National Disaster Response Coordinator, questioned whether any island could be fully prepared, noting that both territories and their dependents were prepared for the disaster.

     

    “We see the destructive nature of these natural storms. So therefore, here in St. Kitts and Nevis, we continue to prepare in the best way that we can. And this exercise that you are witnessing today is one such way in which we are preparing, identifying gaps, and we have the time now to be able to fill these gaps and address some of the concerns that the exercise is addressing and identifying,” explained Samuel.

     

    Hurricane Beryl surprised forecasters regionally and internationally, both with its quick intensification and being the first storm in many decades to become a major Category Four or Five storm this early in the season.

     

    The problem for Samuel and his team is that the storms are becoming stronger and stronger, more frequent, and are lasting longer, creating a challenge that could hamper immediate disaster response coordination efforts.

     

    Despite not being directly impacted by any major storm this season, the National Response Coordinator and team are seeking to reassure the public that they are working behind the scenes to ensure that the wheels are properly tuned should there be a need.

     

    "It is important to really assure the general public that we are, meaning the NEMA, is doing everything possible with the support of the government to ensure that we are in a state of readiness to deal with a Category 5 impact,” added Samuel.

     

    The stark reality of the devastation of Beryl on the Southern islands is coming to light - from its massive destruction of infrastructure to homelessness - raising concerns for local officials. Samuel noted that after witnessing the impact, “it gives us time to continue to prepare and strengthen ourselves. It's a gigantic effort whereby the policy and technical levels, they have to have synergies.”

     

    “The critical element for us to be able to go through this exercise or an impact of this nature is to ensure that we have leadership, and the leadership has to be demonstrated from the very top, meaning from the Prime Minister's level right down to the community level. We are seeing that the Prime Minister is intricately involved,” stated Samuel.

     

    Currently, NEMA is working with officials at the technical levels, district volunteers at the community levels, international and regional partners, as well as the private sector to ensure readiness across the board.

     

    Meanwhile, NEMA officials have taken a strong look at the best practices and the weaknesses of the responses and preparation in the affected member states and are seeking to make adjustments to better suit St. Kitts and Nevis on best practices.

     

    It is hoped that by learning lessons from the impact of Hurricane Beryl, NEMA will put forward recommendations to the Cabinet where policies will be drafted as necessary and funding will be allocated to assist in mitigating major damage from hurricanes going forward.

     

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