By Steve Thomas Observer Nevis Editor
(Charlestown, Nevis) – With a busier-than-usual hurricane just ended, officials from across the Caribbean region are looking at ways to improve warning systems. As part of this effort, a top CARICOM official is calling for closer links between regional disaster management agencies to better monitor environmental conditions and provide early warning notices during severe weather periods. In the Caribbean, Cuba sustained a great deal of damage during the hurricane season, but Haiti was hardest hit, enduring widespread death and destruction after being lashed by a series of tropical storms and hurricanes. In the Federation, Hurricane Omar struck in mid-October. The storm destroyed a number of homes and businesses. The highest-profile casualty was the Four Seasons Nevis resort, which is not scheduled to re-open until April 30, 2009. However, Four Seasons has maintained its staff at full strength to assist in the cleanup work. A total of 16 named storms formed during the 2008 hurricane season. The season runs for six months between June 1 and Nov. 30, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. Eight of those tropical storms became hurricanes, five of which were major hurricanes, ranked a Category 3 strength or higher – numbers well above normal. A season has an average of 11 storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes. Earlier this week, Dr. Edward Greene, Assistant Secretary-General of the CARICOM Secretariat told the opening ceremony of the 48th Session of the Caribbean Meteorological Council on Tuesday that it was necessary to re-position the Caribbean Meteorological Organisation to address developmental concerns in the international environment. For this to be done effectively, he said, there should be close linkages with local and regional disaster management agencies and constant collaboration with other sectors of society in seeking innovative ways to overcome shortfalls in the resources and capacity of the CMO and other disaster management agencies. Dr. Greene also called for increased public education and information dissemination on disaster mitigation and management in an effort to create greater awareness among stakeholders and “address the current attitudes of our people towards natural disasters particularly towards tropical storms and hurricanes.” The CMO has also announced its near completion of its Radar Project which has resulted in the construction and installation of four new digital weather radars, three of which were already installed in Barbados, Belize, Trinidad and Tobago and the other, to be installed in Guyana by Feb.2009. The radars will link existing systems to create a modern network for establishment of a Caribbean Early Warning System for severe weather conditions, Dr. Greene said. (Some information courtesy of CARICOM)
