Words from Nevis’ Minster responsible for Disaster and Chair of the Nevis Disaster Management Committee – Hon. Spencer Brand.

The committee held the 1st in a series of meetings at the Nevis Disaster Management Department (NDMD) on Tuesday, April 9th, 2024 to begin preparations for this year’s hurricane season.

Present at the meeting were Members of NEMA’s Management Board, NGO’s and other stakeholders on the island. Minister Brand spoke more about the season’s outlook:

Providing an overview was Director of the Nevis Disaster Management Department, Brain Dyer who said that a total of ten (10) Emergency Shelters throughout the island will be activated for the upcoming season. According to Mr. Dyer, in preparation, these shelters will be looked-at sometime next week.

These shelters will be at the Anglican Church Hall in St. Paul’s Parish, the Pond Hill and Albertha Payne Community Centers in St. John’s Parish, the Charles L. Walters Community Center and the Ebenezer Church of God in St. George’s Parish, the Franklyn Brown and Butlers Community Centers in St. James Parish and the Jessup’s, Barnes Ghaut and Cotton Ground Community Centers in St. Thomas’ Parish.

Additional training sessions will be held between May 28th to November 29th, 2024. Sessions include: Shelter and Shelter Management Training, Disaster Relief Supplies Distribution Business Continuity Planning, Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Spanish Safety Orientation Training and Post Disaster Needs Assessment Training.

The VON NEWSLINE also spoke to Mr. Dyer who provided this synopsis:

The Colorado State University issued its 1st forecast for the 2024 season which resulted in 23 named storms, 11 hurricanes and of the eleven, 5 are said to be major with wind speeds of 111 miles per hour or greater.