The Barbados Meteorological Services (BMS) will continue its series of panel discussions on natural disaster preparedness, this month.
On Sunday, September 3, the panel discussion will focus on “High Winds: The Risk and Its Mitigation”. It will take place at Princess Margaret Secondary School, Six Cross Roads, St. Philip, at 4:00 p.m.
According to Senior Meteorologist, Semelka Jackman, the aim of the discussion is to educate the public about the hazards of high winds; what measures residents should take to assess and address the vulnerabilities of their properties, and the importance of having home insurance.
The Panellists will comprise representatives from: the BMS – Racquel Davis and Johnathan Alleyne; the General Insurance Association of Barbados – David Alleyne; and the District Emergency Organisation – Omar Estwick. The moderator will be Christal Austin.
The following Sunday, September 10, at 4:00 p.m. at Hawthorn Memorial Methodist Church, Rendezvous Hill, Christ Church, the discussion will examine “Coastal Hazards and Our Vulnerabilities”. Ms. Jackman noted that the goal of this session is to sensitise the public and the tourism sector on coastal hazards, mainly tsunamis. Persons attending will also hear how information is disseminated if there is a threat.
Panellists include: BMS Meteorologist, Racquel Davis; Research Officer, Coastal Zone Management Unit, Danielle Howell; Chief Executive Officer, Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association, Ryan Forde; and Representative from the District Emergency Organisation, Ian Smitten. The moderator will be Christal Austin.
The series, which is a collaborative effort with the Department of Emergency Management (DEM), aims to increase the effectiveness of meteorological information provided by the Department, as well as heighten public awareness and public engagement. Members of the public are encouraged to attend the two-panel discussions.