Well once again the talk about who is a Trini and who said what, and now, who did what with reference to the Tropical Storm Bret. The fact is that even though we are out of the established hurricane belt, I assume that this imaginary line is determined by insurance companies, we are still susceptible to adverse weather conditions. All over the world countries have to deal with weather and other natural disasters. Some countries are extremely good at dealing with these disasters and some countries are indeed hopeless. We even have some countries that are good but at times are in fact hopeless, it all comes down to managing the instance.
Where does that put T&T? good, extremely good or hopeless? I think if one examines what constitutes a well managed natural disaster there are a number of areas that you would rate a country's readiness and preparedness for both during and then the hard part, the aftermath.
A named storm crossed over the island with winds just down from 60kph and with heavy rainfall and the question would be did the authorities deal effectively with the situation?
It was communicated days in advance that there was a distinct possibility that a system of bad weather would be over the islands.
Storm bulletins were issued and the population was kept updated at all times.
Storm shelters were listed and I can only assume were in fact opened to the public.
Citizens were advised as to what precautions should be taken.
Various entities put their own disaster management practices in place. The airports were closed at a certain hour, the offshore energy facilities were left unmanned, the inter island ferry service is stopped etc.
The storm crosses certain parts of the island and there is damage. Mainly flooding with some fallen trees and power lines. The floods continue for many hours after the Storm Advisory is lifted and will continue.
So what happens next? there is no loss of life, but property damage, both residential and commercial, including hundreds of hectares of agricultural holdings with millions of dollars lost as a result of flooded crops.
The PMOTT makes a public statement on the afternoon of the storm making landfall. The line Ministers responsible for various areas, agriculture, housing, trade, finance, health basically all other Ministries that make life livable have all but disappeared, possible blown away by the storm.
Is it that there is no policy, nothing in place for when a disaster happens where the Cabinet should already have a recovery plan in place for dealing with the aftermath? I see the LOTO touring flood hit areas but I would think not being able to guarantee a single flood hit household any real assistance. Do the Regional Corps have a disaster fund to use at their discretion?
The question on many minds today was 'where is the Government?' Other than first closing down the country and then saying after that today was not a public holiday the PMOTT has not made a single statement that would bring some relief to the flood stricken areas. The Minister of Agriculture has not made a single statement that would somehow lessen the stress and anxiety of hundreds of farmers who have been wiped out. The Minister of Works [and Ferries] is lost in the wilds of Sangre Grande and seems to be shell shocked. Surely any responsible government would have a written plan of action as to how and who will be dealing with this catastrophe.
As with all disasters PR is very important, bad PR sucks. Ask a former POTUS about that after a hurricane wiped out an entire city in Louisiana. The only thing worse than having your home flooded out is a fire that destroys your entire life. The citizens in central and the south of the island need your help urgently!
So after that little venting what is your opinion of the Government's handling of the flooding disaster in Trinidad. My take, the same way you botched up the Tobago ferry service, if it is the same people handling the flooding disaster then one cannot expect anything different. Total screw up!
During my life time I have witnessed first hand horrible flooding, one feels as though you will never be normal again. Months afterwards you still find remnants of the last flood, only to be flooded again.
People need to be treated in a particular way, whether it is the Grenfel Tower situation or loosing your life savings in a natural disaster, like what happened yesterday in T&T. It is people you are dealing with, not stone.
Words of the PMOTT ' We are on full alert and on standby'
Where does that put T&T? good, extremely good or hopeless? I think if one examines what constitutes a well managed natural disaster there are a number of areas that you would rate a country's readiness and preparedness for both during and then the hard part, the aftermath.
A named storm crossed over the island with winds just down from 60kph and with heavy rainfall and the question would be did the authorities deal effectively with the situation?
It was communicated days in advance that there was a distinct possibility that a system of bad weather would be over the islands.
Storm bulletins were issued and the population was kept updated at all times.
Storm shelters were listed and I can only assume were in fact opened to the public.
Citizens were advised as to what precautions should be taken.
Various entities put their own disaster management practices in place. The airports were closed at a certain hour, the offshore energy facilities were left unmanned, the inter island ferry service is stopped etc.
The storm crosses certain parts of the island and there is damage. Mainly flooding with some fallen trees and power lines. The floods continue for many hours after the Storm Advisory is lifted and will continue.
So what happens next? there is no loss of life, but property damage, both residential and commercial, including hundreds of hectares of agricultural holdings with millions of dollars lost as a result of flooded crops.
The PMOTT makes a public statement on the afternoon of the storm making landfall. The line Ministers responsible for various areas, agriculture, housing, trade, finance, health basically all other Ministries that make life livable have all but disappeared, possible blown away by the storm.
Is it that there is no policy, nothing in place for when a disaster happens where the Cabinet should already have a recovery plan in place for dealing with the aftermath? I see the LOTO touring flood hit areas but I would think not being able to guarantee a single flood hit household any real assistance. Do the Regional Corps have a disaster fund to use at their discretion?
The question on many minds today was 'where is the Government?' Other than first closing down the country and then saying after that today was not a public holiday the PMOTT has not made a single statement that would bring some relief to the flood stricken areas. The Minister of Agriculture has not made a single statement that would somehow lessen the stress and anxiety of hundreds of farmers who have been wiped out. The Minister of Works [and Ferries] is lost in the wilds of Sangre Grande and seems to be shell shocked. Surely any responsible government would have a written plan of action as to how and who will be dealing with this catastrophe.
As with all disasters PR is very important, bad PR sucks. Ask a former POTUS about that after a hurricane wiped out an entire city in Louisiana. The only thing worse than having your home flooded out is a fire that destroys your entire life. The citizens in central and the south of the island need your help urgently!
So after that little venting what is your opinion of the Government's handling of the flooding disaster in Trinidad. My take, the same way you botched up the Tobago ferry service, if it is the same people handling the flooding disaster then one cannot expect anything different. Total screw up!
During my life time I have witnessed first hand horrible flooding, one feels as though you will never be normal again. Months afterwards you still find remnants of the last flood, only to be flooded again.
People need to be treated in a particular way, whether it is the Grenfel Tower situation or loosing your life savings in a natural disaster, like what happened yesterday in T&T. It is people you are dealing with, not stone.
Words of the PMOTT ' We are on full alert and on standby'
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