Page 8 - DDME "The Disaster Forum"

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Mrs. Cheryl Jones
“Permanent Secretary”
MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS WITH RESPONSIBILITY ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Be ready, be ready, you beSer prepare, the hurricane season now is here!
This locally produced jingle resonates with me as I am sure it does with other residents of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Every ci@zen of at least 10 years of age has experienced the impact of a hurricane. Having lived through Hurricane Ike in 2008 and Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, our ci@zens have stories to tell. Most ci@zens know that June to November marks the hurricane season and prepara@ons begin long in advance.
In the Turks and Caicos Islands the Department for Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME), is the arm of government responsible for coordina@ng our mi@ga@on, preparedness, response and recovery efforts in @mes of impact. Our mul@-hazard approach does not only include hurricanes but also earthquakes, floods and other catastrophic events, that expose our vulnerabili@es and leave us at risk of being overwhelmed by disasters.
Prepara@on is vital and our recent history with hurricanes, will be the litmus test as the season approaches. I endorse the sen@ments of the DDME in regards to prepara@on and the development of a business and family disaster management plan; let us ensure family members and staff are fully aware of these plans and know what to do in an emergency.
encourage all to listen to official reports from the DDME, as it is the official body for the dissemina@on of na@onal emergency informa@on channeled through our local radio sta@on and other established and credited sites. Also, please go through your checklist ensuring that you keep your safety kits nearby, check your baSeries, your hurricane supplies and make sure that you are prepared and you do all you can to keep you,
your family, and your staff as safe as you can.
Communica@on is important for decision making and I
Through partnership we can enhance our safety. The Ministry is commiSed to working steadfastly to secure the ra@fica@on of necessary policies and protocols that will give DDME and all of us, the tools and structure we need to strengthen our prepara@on and response to disasters and emergencies. We can only do this with the coopera@on of all our partners both in the public and private sector.
The Ministry reaffirms our commitment to fostering a resilient and always ready Turks and Caicos Islands. Like most of us, my prayer this year is for a quiet and unevenkul season but if faced with challenges we are able to withstand any level or category of event. May God con@nue to preserve us, our neighbours and territories across the region, especially those s@ll recovering from the impact of the 2017 storms Irma and Maria.
Be Prepared! May God bless our ‘BeauTful by Nature’ Turks and Caicos Islands.