ODPM ADVISES CITIZENS TO CONTINUE BEING VIGILANT OF ADVERSE WEATHER

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) is advising citizens to be vigilant of upcoming adverse weather as indicated in Information Bulletin #5 issued by the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Office (TTMET) at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday 27^th September, 2016.

The area of low pressure associated with a very active Tropical Wave was located approximately 4800 km east of Barbados and continues to become better organised. Whether the system intensifies or not, Trinidad and Tobago is expected to experience adverse weather conditions later tonight, continuing into tomorrow Wednesday 28^th September, 2016.

Due to the high possibility of moderate to heavy showers occurring with isolated thundershowers capable of yielding moderate to severe street or flash flooding and strong gusty winds, the ODPM today partnered with key stakeholders to make available preparedness items, particularly sandbags, to high-risk communities in an effort to assist them in building their own capacity. This distribution is a collaborative effort between the Disaster Management Units (DMUs) of the various municipal corporations, the Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs), the ODPM Volunteers and non-governmental organisations.

Some of the areas deemed to be most high-risk, based on our vulnerability assessment data, began distributing sandbags through community walks and at the following locations:  

Distributions are to continue into Wednesday 28^th September 2016 as required. For additional information on the collection points in areas not listed, please contact their respective Disaster Management Unit directly using numbers provided on the ODPM’s website www.odpm.gov.tt, including the Tobago Emergency Management Agency.

The following items have been made available to Municipal Corporations for building capacity, if areas are impacted by the disturbed weather:

• Soak-a-bags

• Hygiene Kits

• First Aid Kits

• Tarpaulins

Citizens are reminded that the distribution of sandbags is meant to assist you in building capacity and is not meant to replace your own preparedness activities. You are advised to take all necessary precautions to protect and preserve life and property. Members of the public are encouraged to use the checklist found on our website www.odpm.gov.tt and our mobile application “Disaster Ready” to prepare disaster kits.

We wish to underscore that Trinidad and Tobago is not under any Tropical Storm threat, Watch or Warning at this time. Citizens are asked to resist following any media, social media posts or unauthorised messages which are not disseminated by the TTMET Office or published on the ODPM’s social media platforms.

The ODPM as the lead National Office for Disaster Management is coordinating with all relevant agencies to prepare for the possibility of any incoming weather, as we continue to closely monitor this weather event through the TTMET Office. Further, issuance of any other information bulletins will be done in a timely manner to advise the public of any further developments.

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ENDS

Issued by:

Public Information, Education and Community Outreach Unit

publicinfo.odpm@gmail.com

For further information, please Call:

ODPM’s Customer Call Centre 511