Memories of the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria still linger in the minds of the residents of the Kalinago Territory. This has propelled those involved in disaster management to start early preparations for the hurricane season. To ensure the smooth coordination and implementation of plans, a Kalinago District Disaster Committee was formed.
During the first meeting, representatives from different hamlet disaster committees, Kalinago Council, disaster committees from Atkinson, and other groups elected a management team consisting of Willa Cyrille as Chairperson, Anthony Cornelius as Deputy Chair, and Bernadette Graneau as Secretary. They will provide the essential link between the Office of Disaster Management (ODM) and the Territory and Atkinson. There is also a chairman who will act as executive officer of the district and provide support and leadership for emergency committees.
According to a DNO reporter in attendance, those gathered in the meeting expressed their satisfaction at this initiative because, in the past, the Kalinago Territory was forgotten and sidelined by the disaster managers. Though it has been over five years since the passage of Hurricane Maria, many people are unable to forget the sad and horrible experience they had to endure during the hurricane. Most people are still traumatized and living in fear. Adults and children are petrified even when there is moderate wind or a thunderstorm. The Kalinago area suffered the full blunt and fury of the hurricane and even today, some people tell their stories of survival with strong emotion. They pray that they will never go through another disaster like what they experienced with Hurricane Maria. The construction of the Multipurpose Center/Emergency Shelter in Bataca and the construction of resilient houses which they now occupy contribute to alleviating some fears about the threat of hurricanes.
Therefore, measures are being taken to ensure that there is a functional disaster committee in each of the hamlets in the Kalinago Territory and Atkinson/Antrizle. A review of all hurricane shelters is to be undertaken with immediate effect and training on all levels for personnel of disaster committees and managers. As part of the preparation process, there is a need to develop emergency operation procedures and ensure that emergency services are up-to-standard. A very important aspect of preparation is outreach to the people through the dissemination of information about the preparation works being undertaken by the District Disaster Committee.
Dominicans are very much aware that hurricanes are a powerful force of nature that can cause widespread destruction and loss of life. The Committee knows that through careful planning and preparation, it is possible to minimize the impact and protect communities that are in the path of these storms. Therefore, implementing effective strategies for evacuation and emergency response work needs to be done to ensure that the destructive power of hurricanes is mitigated as much as possible.
Amen. Be proactive not reactive. I wish the first people of Dominica all the best.