The Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) has moved ahead of its Trinidad counterpart and developed a Scarborough evacuation plan for use in the event of an emergency. The plan, which was piloted throughout the Carnival days, is the first for any part of the country and can be adapted for any part of the island of Tobago. TEMA director Owen Sandy explained that the plan was an annex to the Tobago Carnival Operations Command Post's emergency plan. Outside of Carnival it will be activated whenever an imminent threat is present and the mandatory evacuation of Scarborough is imperative. The Carnival Operations Command Post was set up from Carnival Saturday in the FCB Car Park. Present were medical staff and members of the security forces.
Sandy said the plan is to basically evacuate Scarborough in an orderly manner on foot to one of the muster points, leaving all vehicles parked and secured. People with special needs within Scarborough will be evacuated by the Fire Service and supported by the PTSC disability buses, while persons on the Port will be evacuated by the Coast Guard which will also provide additional security there. The muster points are located at Orange Hill Road, Shaw Park, Bishop's High School, Mt Marie, Morrison Tyre Shop, Wilson Road, Botanic Gardens, Claude Noel Highway, Keith Louis Garage, Northside Road, and the Old Market Car Park. TEMA will be responsible for issuing the mandatory evacuation order, while the Fire Service will use its siren to provide an alert to the Scarborough Police and other interests to trigger the evacuation plan.
The Police Service will be responsible for law and order, static patrols at all junctions identified in the plan, managing the evacuation routes of Scarborough based on hazard and directing evacuees to one of the six muster points. The police will also ensure evacuation routes remain clear of vehicular traffic and will use sirens and mobile PA systems to alert and provide evacuation instructions. TEMA has organised a massive education programme to sensitise the population about the plan.