WITH AN above average hurricane season predicted for this year, Dr. Barbara Carby, director-general of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), has warned that residents should not hesitate when told by the agency to leave an area under threat of flooding.
"If you are in a vulnerable position you must heed our calls to move early. If we say evacuate, you must move," Dr. Carby said during a press briefing yesterday at the ODPEM's South Camp Road, Kingston offices.
FLASH FLOOD WATCH
While the ODPEM head was making her comments, the Meteorological Service was issuing a flash flood watch for low-lying and flood-prone areas of all parishes until 5:00 this morning.
This flash flood watch means that flash flooding is possible and residents are advised to take precautionary measures.
Improvement in the weather is expected tomorrow as a surface trough drifts towards the west.
Dr. Carby said the agency has been working since last year to get the island prepared for this hurricane season.
"We trained 1,500 volunteers for emergency situations and the first swift water rescue team has also been trained," she said. She also noted that an additional 300 shelter managers have been trained and are ready to work whenever the need arises.
The prediction for this hurricane season is that there will be 13 to 16 named storms. Eight to 10 of these may develop into hurricanes and, of this number, up to six may become intense.
