PM Drew convenes emergency disaster preparedness meeting at NEMA

Hurricane Beryl has left a trail of destruction across many countries in the region after the catastrophic Category 4 storm made landfall in Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada.

Based on information now coming out of the southern islands, Carriacou, Petit Martinique and many of the Grenadine islands have sustained massive damage.

Barbados meanwhile, has reported significant damage to infrastructure as well as its fisheries and agricultural industries.

At least 20 boats have also been reported as completely destroyed.

No figure has yet been placed on the estimated damage to the impacted countries.

As the assessment of the full scale of the destruction and recovery efforts begin in those countries, Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew has looked closer to home and is moving swiftly to ensure that St. Kitts and Nevis is not caught off guard if faced with a similar crisis. 

On Monday, the prime minister called together the country’s disaster management agencies at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) headquarters gauge the nation’s readiness for any disaster which may present itself.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Drew received reports from national stakeholders on the Federation’s preparedness should it find itself in the way of a similar situation.

Discussions were also held on St. Kitts and Nevis’ readiness to provide aid to hurricane ravaged islands in the region.

“This morning I convened an emergency meeting at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to discuss a national collective response to Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) member states that are being affected by Hurricane Beryl. St. Kitts and Nevis stands ready to assist our sister islands.

“Very importantly, we also discussed St. Kitts and Nevis’ readiness for this predicted hyperactive hurricane season,” said Dr. Drew following the meeting.

Ahead of Beryl making landfall on Monday, Prime Minister Drew reported that he was in touch with the prime ministers of the countries in the storm’s path. He indicated that St. Kitts and Nevis stood ready to come to the aid of those countries when the time arrived.

Beryl has the unenviable distinction of being the first hurricane in recorded history to become a Category 4 storm in the month of June. 

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