Barbadians told be always ready for fire, tsunami or tremor

Have a full-scale emergency plan for a range of hazards including fire, tsunami and earthquake, emergency officials have told Barbadians.

“We encourage persons to develop their emergency plans and that could be for fire, any eventuality,” said Director of Emergency Management Kerry Hinds.

“You need as Barbadians, the hazards that can affect you at any point all year round. It is important that you and your family have your plans in place and generally be prepared and aware.”

The call came as two of the country’s emergency management and response organizations cemented their more than two-decades-old relationship in an effort to boost national readiness for emergencies.

The Department of Emergency Management (DEM) and non-governmental Roving Response Team (RRT) on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate more and explore new areas for cooperation.

Hinds stressed the need for residents to be ready and know how to react in the event of a disaster.

“We also encourage persons once they have prepared themselves to help within the community. Hence, the reason we continue to call on persons to join the district emergency organizations. At the end of the day you are the first responders in the community and the only way you can respond accordingly is if you have the knowledge and know how to do so,” she said.

DEM director Kerry Hinds (right) and RRT President Ricardo Patrick signing a MOU today.

Hinds said the emergencies and disasters over the years have highlighted the need for “effective and proactive partnerships between public sector emergency responders and the whole of society to assist in all phases pertaining to management of disasters”.

She said: “As we purse a vision of a more resilient Barbados, a mission to coordinate a comprehensive disaster management system to ensure a more resilient Barbados through a consultative, proactive and participatory process, and a mandate to develop promote and maintain a comprehensive national disaster management programme, we cannot attain this fete alone.

“Hence, partnering with organizations such the Roving Response Team support our efforts as I am sure they also appreciate the vision of a more resilient Barbados.”

The DEM, an agency of the Ministry of Home Affairs, is responsible for developing, implementing and evaluating the country’s emergency management programme.

The MOU is intended to allow the two organisations to better share expertise of skills in disaster management through training and technical cooperation.

President of the RRT Ricardo Patrick declared he is looking forward to a more fruitful and mutually beneficial partnership, and said the RRT is committed to supporting any national emergency response.

All but three of the 30 volunteer district emergency organizations (DEOs) are currently active, said officials.

Patrick said the RRT continues to carry out major training in its districts so that volunteers could “take the training back into their neighbourhoods and explain to people the things that should be done or what could help them”.

He said: “We, the roving team, do a lot of internal training and we work with other entities in trying to prepare ourselves in cases something happen we can be ready.”
marlonmadden@barbadostoday.bb