The 2010 Atlantic hurricane season will officially start on June 1, and continue until November 30. The Observer caught up with Carl Herbert, National Disaster Coordinator for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to get information on how residents should prepare for a possible event within the Federation.

“This season should be an active one,” said Herbert, “but active does not necessarily mean that every country will be impacted in the same way. For some countries, a tropical storm may be as active as it gets for that particular territory, as opposed to a full-blown hurricane.

“Forecasters are indicating that there may be 15 named storms and eight hurricanes, of which four may be major -- that is with winds of intensity beyond 111 m.p.h.”

When asked about preparedness efforts, Herbert indicated that it would take place on two tiers.

“We are seeking to mobilize on the national level and on the community level,” he said. “At the national level we are prepared for issues like shelters, supplies, damage assessment, transportation, and utilities. These preparations are mirrored at the community level.

Herbert pointed to volunteers at the community level who will be utilized to mobilize actions in preparation for any response to an event.

“We ask the district volunteers to get to know their communities; to find out, for example, how many disabled persons there are, and to also look at what resources are available in the community, including heavy equipment.”

Having prepared communities is essential, according to Herbert, because if something does occur, any response will begin at the local level before the central office can get mobilized.

“You don't expect people to sit back and say, ‘Well, the NEMA office is closed and we can't do anything; we have to wait to hear what they say,' “ he explained. “If communities have effective development linkages and approaches, then they would have important resources documented, so that if something happens, they can call on those persons to provide a first response.”

Coordination is key between different government departments and private industry, especially for a country of limited means.

“On the national level, we are not like FEMA in the U.S. where we have all those resources under our control,” Herbert said. “So, we link with various institutions, for example, with the Port Authority, with Public Works, with the National Housing Corporation, and with the Electricity Department, so as they get themselves ready it helps the overall preparedness goal.”

When asked what individual citizens can do to prepare, the response was very specific and comprehensive.

“We want persons to continue to get storage containers for water, with covers, and containers that can be used to store things such as documents. Zip-lock bags can be placed in the watertight bucket, or used to cover equipment. Persons should have access to small tools and supplies, such as a hammer, nails, saw, and rope. We also want persons to store non-perishable items, like biscuits, and crackers.”

Herbert sent a special appeal to persons who have special needs, or who have relatives with special needs, such as diabetics, who need insulin, and asthmatics, to have extra medication on hand for the hurricane season, in the event that it might become difficult to obtain such supplies.

“We don't want people to rely on government; the more individuals are prepared, the better,” he asserted.

Another important hurricane season preparedness focus should be on securing building material, especially within the construction sector. In addition, individuals are encouraged to looking around their premises to see where items lying around can be either secured or removed, as they can potentially cause damage in the presence of strong winds.

Sheltering arrangements also start at the community level, according to Herbert.

“We want to encourage people to see if a room can be located in their houses that can be considered safe,” he said, noting that community centers and churches have been identified as facilities that can be used as shelters, but that homes should be utilized as the first resource.

He continued, “People are also encouraged to stay with family and friends in the event of an emergency to reduce the pressure on the national resources. It is also a way of helping individuals to cope through the period of anxiety, as it is more comforting to be around persons we are familiar with.”

Lastly, Herbert enjoined citizens not to wait until a storm has begun to impact the country, thus placing more lives at risk.