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Friday, February 16, 2007 - There is
the temptation to believe that an evacuation order may be used only in the case
of an approaching Storm/Hurricane. Hazard analysis and experience have
confirmed that Saint Lucia is at risk from numerous hazards.
In 2006 the Disaster Management Act was passed with the powers of Evacuation
included. With the new legal mandate NEMO has been collaborating with a number
of Communities with the aim of having every community empowered with the
knowledge of where to go if the need to leave home ever arises.
Work has already begun in the Anse la Raye and Vieux Fort areas with Soufriere
being targeted once these are done.
"It is a massive undertaking" The
Director NEMO pointed out. "But for the
legislation to work there must be protocols in place."
As Cricket World Cup is now upon Saint Lucia and the region the NEMO Secretariat
has published the Evacuation Plans for Beausejour and Caye Mange Communities.
"This took weeks even months of collaboration
between the Community, Ministry of Social Transformation, the Gros Islet
Disaster Committee and the NEMO Secretariat to develop the plan." French
said. "Now it is ready."
One copy of the plan is now available to every house hold in Beausejour and Caye
Mange. Copies are available from the Post Office at Bridge Street, as well as
Branches at Conway Carpark, Rodney Bay and Gros Islet. It is ONLY for persons
living at Beausejour and Caye Mange. Some homes have been issued already and
need not collect a second copy.
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