The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) and the Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) are actively monitoring Tropical Storms Helene and Isaac in the Eastern Atlantic.
As a result of the storms’ projected movement toward the west, these cyclones pose no direct threat to Trinidad and Tobago.
The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency Coordinating Unit (CDEMA CU) has activated its regional alerting and notifications, pre-impact analysis, coordination procedures among others. Key state agencies have been notified to be ready to respond if the need arises.
As the ODPM, TEMA and the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS) continues to monitor Tropical Storms Helen and Isaac very closely, it’s too early to tell what impact, if any, these storms will have on the region. The Relief Officer and Officer in Charge of the ODPM Captain (Retired) Neville Wint reminds the population that “We are entering the peak of the Hurricane Season and if these storms pass us, there could be more on the way.”
Residents and visitors can be impacted from the feeder bands from these systems if they progress closer to Trinidad and Tobago. At this time this is not expected but should there be a risk of this we shall issue the appropriate announcement.
Persons in potentially low lying and vulnerable areas should review their emergency plans and consider actions they would need to take if the storms move closer towards Trinidad and Tobago. Everyone should monitor the storms via local news media, the ODPM and TEMA Websites and follow updates from the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service.
It is extremely critical that every individual “Get Ready and Stay Ready” by having a personal emergency plan and be ready to act if they need.
The ODPM’s 2018 Hurricane Guide is available at www.odpm.gov.tt/hurricaneguide.
