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Last Updated: Apr 15th, 2008 - 10:17:14 |
Tortola, April 10th, 2008 (DDM) – The Colorado State University team of forecasters led by Phillip Klotzbach has issued updated predictions for the 2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season. “Information obtained through March 2008 indicates that the 2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season will be much more active than the average 1950-2000 season; we estimate 15 named storms, 8 hurricanes, and 4 intense hurricanes of category 3, 4, or 5.” says Mr. Klotzbach.
The predictions also outlined a 69% probability of a major hurricane making landfall in the United States and an above average chance of a major hurricane landfall risk in the Caribbean. These figures are up from their December forecasts which predicted 13 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 3 intense hurricanes.
According to a release issued by Mr. Klotzbach, “the reason why the season is expected to be so active is because we expect current La Nina conditions to continue to weaken by the start of the 2008 Atlantic basin hurricane season”. A La Nina pattern creates cool water conditions in the Pacific and warm sea surface temperatures in the Eastern Atlantic. Hurricanes gain strength from warm ocean water.
Based on the above normal predictions for the 2008 hurricane season, the public is being advised to make early preparations.
With the Caribbean forecast to have an above-average major hurricane landfall risk this year, it is imperative that the people of the BVI keep hurricane preparedness in the forefront.
Hurricane preparedness material can be obtained through our website at www.bviddm.com or from the DDM offices located at #3 Wailing Road, McNamara.
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Last Updated: Oct 3rd, 2007 - 11:42:52 |
Tortola, October 2nd, 2007 (DDM) – On
27th August 2007, the Hamilton Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC),
in collaboration with the Department of Disaster Management (DDM),
launched its Associate of Science Degree in Disaster Management online
programme. This is the only course offered in this format by HLSCC and
the only one of its kind available in the region.
The first
course, Introduction to Disaster Management, has an enrollment number
of 18 with local and regional students from Barbados, Belize, Jamaica,
St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and Turks and
Caicos. International students enrolled in this course were awarded
scholarships to cover the cost of books, tuition and college fees.
These scholarships were made possible through funding received from the
Department of International Development (DFID), through the Caribbean
Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA) as part of a capacity
building initiative process for persons within the Caribbean region in
the discipline of Disaster Management.
The online program was
designed to target regional students and offers flexibility, which is
essential to Disaster Management professionals. A dynamic,
multidimensional distance edification program, it incorporates the use
of a learner-centric approach designed to accommodate different
learning styles.
One of the strengths of the program is in the
faculty. It boasts experts from throughout the region in the fields of
Health, Engineering, Planning and Disaster Management. On June 30th
2007, HLSCC provided training for six instructors in the programme that
is now being used to administer the online application of the course.
Dr.
Karl Dawson, vice president of HLSCC, commented that the college
welcomed the challenge to make this online course available through the
use of the Blackboard online distance-learning platform. “Our
continuous collaboration with Department of Disaster Management and
regional agencies was once again central to the initiation and
anticipated success of this bold venture. We are striving to ensure
that our online students receive the same quality of educational
experience as students on our campus”. Dr. Dawson has committed to
ensure that there is technical support from the College to facilitate
students’ success.
In addition to the Associate’s degree, HLSCC
offers a Certificate of Achievement in Disaster Management comprised of
core courses focusing on Disaster Planning, Emergency Care &
Treatment (ECAT), Hazardous Materials & Community Preparedness.
This programme began in 2001 and to date an estimated twenty students
have already graduated. HLSCC signed an articulation agreement with
Arkansas Tech University that allows students to transfer to Tech’s
Bachelor’s Degree programme in Emergency Administration and
Management. One student has already graduated from this university.
Two others are currently completing it online.
For more
information about the Bachelor, Associates or Certificate programs in
Disaster Management, contact Ms. Tania Smith at HLSCC at 494-4994.
Department of Disaster Management
#3 Wailing Road MacNamara
Tortola, British Virgin Islands
Ph. 284-494-4499 Fax: 284-494-2024
E-Mail: bviddm@surfbv.com
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