BVI News

DDM pushes to install warning systems by July

DDM Director, Sharlene DaBreo.

Director of the Department of Disaster Management (DDM) Sharlene DaBreo says her department is hoping to install a new National Early Warning System by July.

The old warning system was destroyed during the September 2017 disasters, and government has allocated roughly half-a-million dollars, so far, to source and install the new system.

The National Early Warning System is used to alert the territory when there is a threat of a disaster.

To this end, DaBreo said equipment such as sirens, weather stations with 30-foot towers, smart radios and the like are being sourced in Germany, Venezuela, and the United States.

“We are trying our best to be ready. There was quite a substantial amount of money that was provided by the government to get the basics back in place and to expand the network and to do more things to ensure that we are ready for this season as well as other seasons,” she said at a press conference yesterday, May 2.

In the meantime, ahead of the hurricane season which begins June 1, a number of weather stations are already being installed.

One has been reinstalled in Capoon’s Bay and Paraquita Bay, while another was placed at Hodges Creek.

“Not every community is going to get a siren. Otherwise, we will be proliferating the entire BVI with sirens and I don’t think that’s the purpose,” DaBreo explained.

“Sirens are specifically for people who are outdoors who need some signal to tell them to turn to radio, television, or social media, to get information.”

According to DaBreo, the DDM has been engaged with the Caribbean Institute for Hydrology and Metrology, which has been ‘on the ground’ giving advice about how to reinforce the units.

They have also partnered with the BVI Electricity Corporation to ensure that the safety issues around local power stations are addressed.

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5 Comments

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  1. BVI says:

    GOOG JOB SHARLENE!

  2. Rubber Duck says:

    What was missing last time was a radio station broadcasting govt info 24 hours a day. That is needed.

  3. waste of money says:

    Rubber duckie is spot on, communications are move vital than stupid sirens

  4. ?? says:

    Why are these sirens at Hodges Creek and Paraquita Bay so close to each other. Why not Road Town and Paraquita bay. What is the ratioanal.
    Agree that 24hr radio station broadcasting gov’t info in needed.

  5. Wow says:

    Oh I didn’t know that the 2018 Hurricane Season was postponed to start in July. Commonsense would say push for June so if that fails you at least get it by July. Not a rocket scientist.

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