NEMO & OFDA host Shelter Management & Initial Damage Assessment workshops, diasaster preparedness & awareness activites
By NEMO, St. Vincent & The Grenadines
Mon, 18 Jun 2007, 16:33
Kingstown, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, June 18, 2007 (NEMO) - The National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) in its efforts to continue to build capacities in the areas of Shelter and Shelter Management and Initial Damage Assessment will be conducting two workshops this week, in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA)
The first workshop is a Shelter and Shelter Management Workshop which targets Shelter Managers, Shelter Inspectors and members of the Shelter and Shelter Management Committee of NEMO and the District Disaster Committees. This will take place on Tuesday 19th and Wednesday 20th June, 2007.
The second workshop which runs from Thursday 21st and Friday 22nd June, 2007 will target persons and agencies involved in the Initial Damage Assessment Process as well as members of the Damage and Needs Assessment Sub- Committee of NEMO and the District Disaster Committees.
Director, NEMO, Howie Prince says the objectives of the workshops are: To train key personnel in Shelter Inspection and Shelter Management; and to sharpen the skills of the Damage Assessors and members of the Damage Assessment Committee on the collection, collation, interpretation and reporting of damage information and statistics.
The opening ceremony for the workshops commences at 8:30 am on Tuesday 19th June, 2007. Addresses will come from Director of NEMO, Howie Prince and Consultant with USAID/OFDA Cecil Shillingford.
The workshops will be held in NEMO’s conference room at its Old Montrose Headquarters.
Last Friday 15th June, 2007, senior officials from the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) joined members of the Bequia Disaster Management Committee in their Disaster Preparedness and Awareness Activities for 2007.
The Bequia Disaster Management Committee accelerated its awareness activities to prepare residents of Bequia to weather this hurricane season which is predicted to be very active. The committee aimed to ensure that an overall disaster plan is in place for the island’s response to hurricanes and storms.
Friday 15th June, 2007, was dubbed as “Disaster Preparedness and Awareness Day in Bequia” The highlight of this activity was an exhibition under the Almond Tree in Bequia from 2:00pm to 6:00 pm. Members of the Bequia Disaster Management Committee sensitized residents on aspects of disaster preparedness; distributed information on storm surge, floods and general hurricane preparedness and other information pertaining to activities, roles and function of the committee and residents on the island.
Director, NEMO, Howie Prince in addressing the gathering stated that “This year’s Atlantic Hurricane Season is predicted to be very active with thirteen to seventeen named storms”. Prince urged residents to “step up on their preparedness activities, have their family emergency plans in place and stock up on important emergencies supplies.”
The awareness activities of the Bequia Disaster Management Committee will continue with the collection and collating of information and data necessary to create an overall disaster plan for the island. Such activities will include the mapping of the entire island to identify the areas most vulnerable to floods, landslide and storm surge among other things. Residents will be asked to provide information pertaining to the whereabouts of members of the community who are ill, shut in or disabled. Information pertaining to the availability of transportation, heavy equipment and other buildings that can be used in the event of a disaster will also be collected.
Contact:
Mr. Howie Prince, Director
National Emergency Management Organisation
Office Of The Prime Minister
St. Vincent And The Grenadines
West Indies
Tel: 784-456-2975, ext. 550
Fax: 784-457-1691
Email: nemosvg@yahoo.com