MIDDLE REGION--Assessment of the country’s hurricane shelters commenced this week, some nine days ahead of the start of the annual Atlantic hurricane season (June 1 to November 30).
Three existing shelters and one potential shelter were reviewed by Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin together with representatives of the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI and the Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour VSA.
All existing shelters will be checked and repaired ahead of the hurricane season’s peak – mid-August to late October. Shelter assessment will resume next week, following the two-day “Taking Charge” Disaster Preparedness Conference that starts today, Thursday.
Sister Marie Laurence Primary School in Middle Region is “pretty okay,” Romeo-Marlin said in the Council of Ministers press briefing on Wednesday. The school’s bathrooms and other smaller items are in need of repair. Those items will be covered by the Dutch recovery trust fund.
Belvedere Community Centre and Dutch Quarter Community Centre are in decent shape with only minor repairs needed to make them ready for residents should a storm threaten the country.
Potential hurricane shelter John Larmonie Centre has “a few things that need repair,” said Romeo-Marlin.
The list of shelters and potential shelters was prepared by VSA.
The final list of shelters will be released to the public after the assessments and completion of repairs.
