San Fernando Mayor Robert Parris says preparations for the impending rainy season are in full swing as the Public Health Department of the San Fernando City Corporation (SFCC) is intensifying its drain cleaning and litter monitoring.
Parris said dedicated teams led by Deputy Mayor Patricia Alexis had been deployed across all nine electoral areas to conduct flood mitigation programmes.
Based on anticipated rainfall and weather projections, he emphasised the need for additional infrastructural projects.
“We’ve initiated mechanical cleaning and are swiftly implementing manual drain cleaning to fortify our drainage systems for the approaching rainy season,” the mayor said.
He said while the SFCC Public Health department strives to maintain drain cleanliness and prevent flooding, littering remained a challenge.
“Littering is an ongoing concern, exacerbating our flooding issues. In response, litter wardens are actively ticketing offenders across electoral districts,” Parris said as he stressed the importance of enforcement.
He urged citizens to refrain from littering, highlighting its adverse environmental impacts and its role in exacerbating flooding and drainage obstructions in San Fernando and its environs.
Alexis said while the SFCC might not be able to prevent natural disasters, the flood mitigation project would prepare the city for any eventuality as it relateed to flooding.
Last month, the T&T Meteorological Office warned of early floods and increased mosquito infestations with near-average rainfall expected from April to June and high chances for an above-normal number of wet days and flooding in May and June.
The Met Office said an increase in surface water ponding in areas could promote mosquito breeding and higher incidences of vector-borne diseases. Citizens were advised to clean drains and surrounding areas of debris, be sand-bag ready, conserve, store and manage water, be watchful for extreme rainfall events, especially on extremely hot days and take measures to lessen the potential impacts from the expected increased rainfall and warmer-than-average temperatures.
Farmers were advised to practice soil moisture conservation like mulching and trenches as well as to clear vegetation from crop beds and drains to ease waterlogged soils.