DEM head says there are one or two issues with current buildings

The Department of Emergency Management (DEM) is looking for a few good buildings.

During a media briefing yesterday held at Parliament, director Kerry Hinds said they were appealing to anyone with an appropriate structure to volunteer it as a possible hurricane shelter.

“I would ask if there are any persons who are willing to volunteer their buildings as shelters, any churches or what not, to please contact the DEM or the Ministry of Education. We are always looking to include additional shelters on the list,” she said.

Hinds said there had been “one or two issues” with some of the current batch of shelters and following their scheduled audit, some might be removed from the list.

“As it relates to the shelter capacity and the shelters in general, we noted that we did have one or two issues which we are treating to. [We are] relooking our shelter strategy and our shelter policy and, of course, there is need for us to look at the standard operating procedures to see where we can improve on those as it relates to the actual management of the shelters. While the responsibility falls under the Ministry of Education, this is a multi-stakeholder effort and we pull in various experts from other agencies to support the whole mechanism,” she explained.

The director said some of the issues included structural and manpower matters which was why they conducted a detailed annual audit to determine the continued viability of the island’s 87 Category 1 and 2 shelters.

“Every year we usually do a detailed assessment of the shelters and the ones that we feel need remedial work, we usually pull them off and do [it]. That [assessment] includes a number of agencies looking at the appropriateness of the buildings to be used as shelters . . . . You will see from time to time we may pull certain shelters off the list and then we may put on new ones. So, it is hoped that next year we will have an improved strategy, improved policy and, of course, improved management of the shelters,” she said.

Minister of Home Affairs Wilfred Abrahams said they were encouraged to see an increase in the number of people opting to use hurricane shelters as it was an indicator Barbadians were taking the hurricane season more seriously.

Very good uptake

“I think we had a very good uptake of persons going into shelters this year. I think Hurricane Elsa (in 2021) woke up a lot of Barbadians to not take chances. One time we used to open the shelters and very few people would trickle in, but now people are getting in there early to ask if they can bring their pets.

“They came prepared; they came with their medications, so people did heed the numerous PSAs (public service announcements) that went up there.

Bajans’ approach to this hurricane season is a little bit different than we had before. We’re coming to grips with reality and taking it a bit more seriously now,” he said.

He appealed to the public to be honest in evaluating their properties and if necessary, relocating to shelters in good time.

“Evaluate where it is that you live and if you need to go into a shelter, if you know that your house can’t withstand a hurricane. There is no shame, that’s why shelters are there for. Go into the shelter. Do not wait until the bad weather has started to then come or call or reach out to ask for assistance in getting to a shelter because, at a certain time when we get to a certain wind speed strength, the emergency services shut down until such time as the all-clear is given,” he said.

The minister also asked Barbadians to stay within the shelter until the all-clear is given as there had been cases where people rushed out as soon as the weather seemed to improve.

“We also have persons that as soon as the rain eases before the all-clear is given, they want to go home and check on their property. I mean it’s natural, but the shelter is the safe space for you and if you go there, you go there to be safe. So let us help to keep you safe until such time as it’s safe for you to return home.” (CA)