Dalton Laing, Sunday Gleaner Writer

The parish of Westmoreland is comfortably prepared for any disaster that may arise during the 2007 hurricane season, which began last Friday.

According to Patricia Stair, secretary manager of the Westmoreland Parish Council, drain cleaning is near completion, especially in the flood-prone areas. "Once the drains are cleaned, flooding will be minimised," she states.

The town of Savanna-la-Mar is said to be a few inches below sea level, hence, flooding is the main problem. However, if the drains are free of debris and vegetation, flooding will be minimised.

The hilly sections of the parish could be faced with land slippage but that situation is also under control, the secretary manager says, because several support agencies are on watch to assist when necessary. She adds that several pieces of large equipment have been identified to assist in disaster relief.

"We are not one hundred per cent ready, but we are almost there," says Stair.