State agencies warned members of the public yesterday to secure their property and prepare for the effects of a tropical storm that was due to affect T&T last night.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries urged farmers and fisherfolk to secure livestock and marine assets and in many fishing ports boats were hauled inland to safety.
Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat said farmers and fisherfolk should take this warning seriously and take the necessary precautions.
“Fishermen need to secure their boats and stow gear on land and farmers need to act now to shelter or evacuate farm animals,” he said.
Rambharat said the ministry was already coordinating inter-agency resources to provide relief to farmers and fisherfolk should it become necessary.
“There is only so much you can do with serious weather but paying attention to the bulletins and moving quickly to secure your assets will help reduce losses for farmers and livestock producers,” Rambharat said.
Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture Avinash Singh advised fisherfolk to secure their boats and fishing gear in a Facebook post.
“Please take the advice from the Met offices seriously, now is not a good time to be out at sea, secure your boats and fishing gears, livestock farmers secure your animals, vegetable farmers pay attention to the water levels in waterways close by and open sluice gates and blockages where necessary to reduce the impacts of flooding. The Ministry of Agriculture Land and Fisheries stand ready to support its stakeholders as this storm draws closer.”
The Housing Development Corporation (HDC) also urged home-owners to download or write down the emergency numbers for all emergency service providers in their districts.
In a statement home-owners were asked to monitor trusted news sources for notifications and warnings and follow the directives of local officials.
“The HDC reminds parents to safeguard young children. Give special attention to the elderly and the disabled in your community. Stay in touch with neighbours.”
The release said home-owners should stock up on essential items such as medicine, special foods and baby supplies.
“Remember to secure valuable documents, all pets must be monitored and secured and If leaving your homes, remember to secure your properties.”
The HDC Emergency Coordinating Team activated its Emergency Operational Plan alongside and in support of all the disaster response services throughout the country.
T&T Electricity Commission (T&TEC), another government entity, added two new hotline numbers in light of the tropical storm. The numbers 794-4823, 794-7264 were activated from 6 pm yesterday. Members of the public were advised the existing numbers were 800-TTEC and 800-BULB
Storm warning stops ferry sailings
Vilma Lewis-Cockburn, manager, marketing and public relations at the T&T Inter-island Transportation Company said the weather conditions were being monitored in wake of the tropical storm warning.
In a release yesterday, she advised that the noon sailing yesterday and 6.30 am from Scarborough today were cancelled due to weather bulletin in effect.
The weather conditions are being monitored and the public would be advised of the new sailing times.
The release said due to weather bulletin in effect, the water taxi sailed from Port-of-Spain at 6 am and from Tobago at 2 pm and the T&T Express sailed as scheduled.
