NODS holds strategy meeting ahead of storm’s arrival

The National Office of Disaster Services (NODS) convened a meeting with critical
staff on Thursday to plan for the pending arrival of Tropical Storm Tammy.
NODS Communications Officer, Midcie Francis said the meeting was to review
preparations for the storm and to begin to send out the alert to district disaster
coordinators for them to notify key personnel such as shelter managers and those
individuals with keys to the various shelters.
Already, NODS has distributed a revised list of shelters in communities across
Antigua and Barbuda. These changes are to be communicated to members of the
public to ensure that they know where to go, should they require to leave their
homes prior or during the storm.
Francis said with reports that Antigua and Barbuda will likely get a direct hit or
very close brush with the storm, some managers have commenced preparation of
their respective shelters to stock up on the necessary supplies needed in the event
those places become safe havens for residents.
NODS has also been taking preemptive action by clearing gutters along some of
the nation’s roadways that are prone to flooding. “There have been drainage
cleaning done along the Sir George Walter Highway (Airport Road) as well as
Hawkins Drive and Mahico Drive in Cassada Gardens.
“In addition to these steps, we have also put on notice the members of the National
Emergency Operations Centre, which comprises several key government agencies
such as the police, fire department, the defense force, national solid waste, and the
Central Board of health,” she reported.
Francis explained that there will be a partial mobilization of the NEOC as the
weather system is predicted to be a tropical storm by the time it impacts Antigua
and Barbuda. “In cases where there is a hurricane approaching, then there would be
a full activation of all the members of the NEOC which extends beyond the
emergency response agencies,” she added.