IF?WE?WERE?MINDED TO?FORGET, this week’s all-day rains, flooding and water-pooling around homes in our several low-lying districts would surely have jogged the memory.
It is hurricane time.
Actually the storm season starts today. Officially! For we have had activity for 2012 already, Tropical Storm Beryl having cut what was termed a soggy path across the United States southeast on Monday after rushing into Florida at nigh hurricane strength.
The second named storm of this year’s Atlantic hurricane season, Beryl lashed the East Coast from north Florida to the southern parts of North Carolina, leaving in its wake quite heavy rains.
Her predecessor Alberto, weaker, it seemed, had formed off the South Carolina coast of America, bringing the early start to the unwelcome season.
From today, the annual exercise of public announcements – by radio and television – on hurricane preparedness will generate much discussion on the efficacy of our Disaster Emergency Management protocol and the willingness or unwillingness of being ready for the worst.
Most Barbadians could probably recite, by rote, the required contents of a hurricane kit, the island’s hurricane shelters, and how they should secure their homes for tropical-force winds – even how they might anticipate safety for the family pet and food-producing domestic animal.
Of course, this could all come to naught if the most important thing is taken for granted: beginning our hurricane preparations early.
Safekeeping of medical records and medicines will be essential in the hour of disaster, and afterwards. And never to be taken for granted is our adequate supply of water – for drinking and hygienic reasons. For in disaster, piped water may have to be turned off.
We can’t stop tropical storms and hurricanes from happening, but we can be so prepared that we find ourselves in the sturdiest possible place, in the most probable comfortable circumstance, in the most healthy state.
It behoves us all thus to be alert, paying full attention to the regular weather reports, taking greater note even of storm advisories: the watch, the warning . . . .
Naturally, we yearn for the all-clear, but this is more likely better enjoyed when we have taken all precaution.
For those of us who pay little attention to the public announcements of good disaster conduct, for the sake of our loved ones at least, we might essay to let better sense prevail – from today!
