–seminar told
A two-week seminar on disaster preparedness and crisis management concluded last week at the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) following which it was disclosed that current methods of weather forecasting needed timely improvement to better the country’s preparations for flood-related disasters.
CDC’s Major Bruce Monroe, who headed one of two groups which studied and discussed factors involved in flood preparations, noted that current weather forecasts produced locally are mainly general predictions of the weather. He said that the CDC’s preparations for floods could be improved if weather reports focused on specific areas. As an example, he noted that current forecasts give a general outlook of what the nation should expect on the coastland rather than a specific area. However, he noted that weather forecasting in Guyana is currently in its embryonic stage and the completion of the new Doppler radar facility at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri as well as the development and implementation of hydrological computer models should see improvement in this area.
He also noted that while it is currently difficult to estimate the number of persons affected by floods annually, current plans in use by the CDC do not include designated shelter locations.
Noting that schools and churches are usually converted into shelters, he said this would be at the disadvantage of the affected person/s who may encounter additional problems while on his/her way there.
Monroe also stated that citizens may have a false perception of safety as a result of their own adaptation to disasters. A case in point he described was the manner in which residents living in the Mahaica/Mahaicony area have constructed their homes, built significantly above the ground while farmers there have practiced raising the level of their farmlands. This, he stated, may make them vulnerable if the level of rainfall for the next year surpasses that of previous years.
Monroe, whose group was tasked with analyzing responses to a given scenario in which rainfall triggered floods, said that in spite of the handicap of efficient and reliable weather forecasts, response agencies coordinate well whenever flood related emergencies arise such as in the 2005 Great Flood.
The other group discussed the technological aspect of flood response. In this regard, it was pointed out that the use of technology in disaster preparedness, in this case a flood, would seek to inform the public of flood expectations in a timely manner. Precautions to be taken as well as other response efforts such as where shelters should be set were also mentioned.
It was also noted that the National Disaster Plan should address the roles and responsibilities of relevant organizations in flood response efforts since this would improve coordination efforts.
Acting Chief of Staff of the GDF, Colonel Bruce Lovell told those gathered that the seminar was a good idea. He said there was need for such activities to focus on more complex situations such as a possible breach in the seawalls or conservancies across the country. He said that an integrated body should be established to study and analyse the two rainy seasons experienced in this country so that citizens will be prepared for any eventuality.
Director General of the CDC, Colonel (ret’d) Chabilall Ramsarup said that disaster management in Guyana is being taken more seriously following the 2005 flood. He said by the end of this year the CDC should have its Crisis/Disaster Management Plan completed while a United Nations expert is expected to assist the commission in its disaster preparedness programmes in the near future.