Tobago’s Emergency Management Agency is working to restock resources used during the February oil spill disaster in preparation for the upcoming hurricane season, according to agency director Allan Stewart.
The 2024 hurricane season begins on June 1 and ends on November 30.
The T&T Meteorological Service has already predicted an above average season.
Speaking on Wednesday, Stewart said TEMA is focused on developing a culture of resilience across the island.
“We are preparing the population, we are asking all the sectors to be ready to do what they can so that they make themselves hard targets during this season,” he added.
The Tobago House of Assembly (THA) has carried out drainage works to reduce the risk of severe flooding and identified buildings with compromised foundations that could pose a threat. Stewart also confirmed that all emergency shelters are equipped and ready for use.
While officials on the island had to utilise resources to respond to the February 7 oil spill, Stewart assured that this will not pose a challenge as the agency restocks in anticipation of the hurricane season.
“And now we are in the process of restocking those areas to ensure that in the event of a major incident, we are able to respond adequately,” he said.
Stewart called on stakeholders to contribute resources as TEMA continues to prepare the island for the upcoming hurricane season.
“We have been going to the malls and reaching people on the streets and going to the schools to teach people about disaster preparedness. Based on the projections by Met (T&T Meteorological Office) this year promises to be active. But it just needs one to throw us off,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Farley Augustine, during a press conference last week, said the island is still reeling from the effects of inclement weather two years ago.
He said, “The THA through TEMA, we are in fact ready and prepared for the upcoming hurricane season. We do anticipate significant volumes of rainfall and we know that will have impact to floods landslides damage to homes and private properties. We have not even resolved some of the issues from the extreme rainfall activities from the end of 2022. We are preparing even with that in mind.”