St James must become a model of Disaster Preparedness from which other communities across the nation can pattern themselves.
That was the message sent by panellists speaking on the topic Disaster Preparedness for St James at the St James Amphitheatre, at WeTalk, part of the just-concluded WeBeat St James Live 2013.
Organiser of the event Anton La Fond, an advocate for the elderly and disabled, along with fellow panelists Denise Charles and Alan Gittens, lectured a disappointingly small audience on how to prepare homes, families, neighbourhoods, and communities for experiencing natural or man-made disasters.
"We are in the 2013 hurricane season, and have to make ourselves ready, as individuals, by getting our families together and coming up with a plan we will implement in the event of a disaster," said La Fond. "This should include knowing exactly where we would go and how we would get there."
An important aspect of any neighbourhood disaster preparedness plan, however, must include how we treat with the elderly and disabled, he stressed.
"One thing you can do is seek out one elderly or disabled person in your area who you will help if anything happens, as they are the most vulnerable individuals," he said. "As a community St James needs to adopt a serious approach to disaster preparedness. We have to get ready inside our homes by having a family disaster plan, a preparedness kit, battery operated radio, and emergency contact numbers at hand."
Families, he added, need to find out where the nearest shelter is located, how to administer CPR, who on their street has special needs, and what can be done to help them.
Charles, who said she had first-hand knowledge of the 911 tragedy in the USA, said from her observation of how Trinidad and Tobago approaches disaster preparedness, "if anything happens in Port-of-Spain, everyone is likely to die in their cars."
Gittens, a disaster specialist who has been working for 25 years with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the United States, said he had been to 17 major disasters over the world, including hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. He said citizens Trinidad and Tobago should "prepare for the worst, but expect the best."
As part of La Fond's awareness campaign, members of the audience were presented with kits containing a dust mask, adhesive bandage, sterile pad, and a pamphlet with helpful hints that would assist individuals in coping with a disaster. The kits, he said, would be distributed to schools in order that awareness of disaster preparedness becomes a priority among the younger generation.
The advocate said he was concerned with the readiness of emergency shelters that are earmarked to be located in schools, churches and community centres.
"Would these shelters have the basic requirements of water, beds, functioning toilets, proper lighting, facilities for the disabled and elderly, medical supplies, and other necessary equipment?" he asked.
Richard Industries, a St James-based company specializing in disaster preparedness equipment, mounted a display of its products, and advanced explanations on how they are to be utilised.
Making a guest appearance at the event was Tsahai Corbin, first prize winner, and winner of the most original calypso award in the Port of Spain's City Corporation's recent "Disaster Preparedness Calypso Competition. The Form Three St. Joseph Convent's student performed the Sheldon Nugget composition titled Have A Plan.