Thursday 1st June marks the official start of the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season. A total of eleven (11) named storms, four (4) hurricanes and two (2) major hurricanes are expected this season, according to the forecast prepared by the Colorado State University (CSU) Tropical Meteorology Project, headed by Dr. Phil Klotzbach.
The National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) in collaboration with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), with support from CCRIF SPC (formerly the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility), is hosting a workshop today, Wednesday 5th April, to validate the findings of an assessment of four (4) vulnerable communities in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and to provide input into the development of strategies and action plans for reducing vulnerability in these communities.
The findings of the vulnerability assessments will be presented by Disaster Management Specialist, Mr. Keith Ford, who was contracted by the OECS Commission. Mr. Ford, with the support of NEMO, and other national entities, prioritised and conducted vulnerability assessments in the communities of Sandy Bay, Barrouallie, Langley Park, Georgetown and Paget Farm, Bequia; utilising instruments developed for the OECS Commission. Mr. Ford will also present recommendations for reducing disaster risks in these communities, and seek consensus on the way forward.