In acknowledging the close of the 2018 Atlantic Hurricane Season (November 30th) Deputy Disaster Coordinator Claricia Langley-Stevens spoke on “From Danger to Safety”, NEMA’s weekly radio programme which airs on ZIZ at 6pm Thursdays and 3pm on Sundays.
“The entire Federation, the staff of NEMA and by extension, the government of St. Kitts-Nevis have so much to be thankful for,” she said.
Despite a seasonal forecast by the National Hurricane Center to the contrary, St. Kitts-Nevis was spared any impact, according to the DNDC. She added that this was despite some challenges experienced by regional neighbours such as Dominica, Trinidad and Tobago and some South American locations which had endured seismic related impacts as well as flooding in recent times.
“We came under flash flood threat on more than one occasion”, she said, “and that didn’t happen.”
Still, the Deputy Disaster Coordinator encourages persons to remain alert and aware and to continue to listen to NEMA’s programming which is provided to maintain and sustain the nation’s preparedness efforts.
In the meantime, NEMA remains vigilant in it’s ongoing role as the nation’s disaster coordinating agency.
The agency has been collaborating with the Ministry of Education on a number of programmes throughout the year including the annual Tsunami Awareness campaign in October, which involved presenters from the U.W.I. Seismic Research Unit and the CDB and CDEMA supported Model Schools Safety Pilot Project, a programme developed to ensure the safety of children, with protection from disasters stemming from hazard vulnerabilities that are related to natural or man made threats.
“We have also witnessed the growth and 1 year celebration of SKN CDM Youth Ambassadors and the launch and induction of young persons via the NDMD (Nevis Disaster Management Department) on Nevis” DNDC Stevens sees this as a means of national development through sustainability, “which is an expansion of disaster management”, she says.
At this time of year when businesses are engrossed in planning for a new cycle, Mrs. Stevens extends thanks and appreciation to all NEMA stakeholders with a special message to Volunteers and well wishers for their support and guidance above and beyond expectations.
