Education Minister Wycliff Smith, Keynote Speaker BVI Department of Disaster Management Director Sharleen DaBreo and Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin
BELAIR–The second Disaster Preparedness Conference, held in Belair Community Centre on July 5, zoomed in on the topic “Communication is Critical” with the launch of St. Maarten’s “Disaster Prep Sint Maarten” app tying into the theme. The launch comes ahead of the peak of the 2019 Atlantic Hurricane Season between August and October.
The conference, hosted by Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin, saw the launch of St. Maarten’s “Disaster Prep Sint Maarten” app. The app is available via the Google Play Store. It is designed to provide information on disaster preparedness, to give regular updates and alerts on local emergencies.
The disaster prep app is an addition to the government’s communication network that includes the Government Information Page, www.sintmaartengov.org, Facebook.com/SXMGOV, YouTube Channel and SXMGOV Radio 107.9 FM.
The conference targeted government’s internal Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) comprising the Disaster Management Organization (EOC) as well as key external stakeholders who assist the EOC in a disaster.
Conference attendees heard about the experiences and got meaningful advice from British Virgin Islands (BVI) Department of Disaster Management Director Sharleen DaBreo. DaBreo was invited by the prime minister as the conference’s keynote speaker.
The importance of effective communication pre- and post a disaster were emphasized at the conference with presenters covering regional and international experiences, as well as available local mechanisms and plans to reach the local and international community, and the establishment of internal organizational structures to cater to the specific information management needs of the EOC.
Speaking about communication, the prime minister told attendees, “Communication in disaster management requires active participation … We must speak a clear understandable language especially when it comes to saving lives. Essentially, we must be able to analyze and transmit critical information in such a way that persons understand the information and take the necessary expected actions.”
“We must do so according to clear communication protocols and guidelines. We have the opportunity to make this our new norm, this is very important for the safety of not only our citizens but also to those first responders who risk their lives to safeguard and protect the people of St. Maarten,” she added.
Dabreo reflected on the many similarities Tortola, BVI, faced and continues to face following Hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017. BVI was without communication directly after the hurricanes; government buildings and key economic infrastructure suffered major damages; many international non-governmental organizations flocked to the island in the aftermath. The recovery on that island is also progressing rather slowly.
Dabreo highlighted BVI’s struggle to develop a more resilient disaster management structure and has offered to assist St. Maarten where possible to strengthen its disaster management organization through the sharing of best practices based on our common experiences.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/88956-gov-t-launches-disaster-prep-app-as-peak-of-hurricane-season-looms
View comments
Hide comments