BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, August 29, 2010 (PAM Secretariat) - The People’s Action Movement leader Lindsay Grant is appealing to all residents of the Federation to increase their levels of preparedness in order to protect and to minimise the impact of Hurricane Earl on life and property.
Grant has sent out a clarion call to all citizens to take heed of the warnings that have been put out by the National Emergency Management Authority NEMA with regards to the approaching Hurricane Earl.
He implored Residents to observe both local and international media for updated advisories and to properly prepare themselves to avoid any loss of life or significant loss of or damage to property.
“According to all reports the federation is a few hours away from a Category 1 Hurricane in Earl,” said the People’s Action Movement Leader. “I want to encourage all residents not to take this storm lightly and to take all the precautions necessary to avoid any loss of life and significant loss of property where possible. Please follow the directives and pronouncements of the NEMA . Years of government wastage has left the federation in an economic position that is not favourable to any adverse shocks , particularly a hurricane. So I again encourage all to do their part and prepare, thus avoiding as much as possible any loss of life or major significant property and infastrcutural damage,” the PAM Cosntituency #4 representative said.
He also encouraged the residents of his constituency, who have suffered considerably over the years, in particular in recent times, from hurricanes and tropical storms, to take particular caution and those in low-lying areas to pay particular attention to advisories and seek haven inland with friends and family.
“I want to particularly encourage my constituencts especially those in the very vulnerable low lying areas and flood prone sites to arrange to seek abode with family or freinds in much safer areas which are not prone to floods,” said Grant. “I pray God's guidance on us all as we brace for this approaching storm,” concluded Grant.
Earl could bring battering waves and storm surge of up to three feet (one meter) above normal tide levels in some areas, according to forecasters. Heavy rains could cause flash floods and mudslides. Forecasters said Earl had several bands of thunderstorms wrapped around its center.
Early Sunday afternoon, Earl was about 190 miles (310 kilometers) east of Antigua, where the storm's outer bands were starting to bring rain. Hurricane force winds extended outward up to 30 miles (45 kilometers) from its center.
