Cayman launches hurricane season with exercise
With the imminent start of the 2003 hurricane season (1 May to 30 November), Cayman's National Hurricane Committee has scheduled a major simulation exercise next week to test and sharpen response of emergency and other essential services.
His Excellency the Governor Mr. Bruce Dinwiddy will officially launch the exercise late Tuesday.
Representatives of sister Caribbean Overseas Territories (COTs) will observe this year's exercise as a mutual learning experience. Currently, the British Virgin Islands (BVI) and Montserrat have confirmed that key disaster and emergency management staff will attend, while Anguilla is finalizing its decision. Locally, representatives of all public utilities will join the range of Cayman Government departments involved in hurricane mitigation activities.
"Hurricane Charlene," the name of the fictional severe weather system that will come with a range of crises for exercise participants, will begin to make its presence felt beginning late Tuesday (29 April) through early Friday morning (2 May), when the "All Clear" will be issued.
Members of the public may see unusual activity in various areas, in particular in the vicinity of the Linford Pierson Highway, but should not be alarmed. Such activity will reflect various scenarios for hurricane-related crises. These are incorporated to build the skills of emergency response agencies in handling not only expected impacts but also any that may be triggered by, or coincide with, potential weather systems.
It is hoped that immediate media such as local radio and possibly television stations will actively participate in announcing stages of the mock exercise. These announcements will contain essential public information that would be transmitted in similar real life emergencies.
Cayman's hurricane emergency response has attracted attention as a model for the region, said lead coordinator for the National Hurricane Committee, Mr. Kirkland Nixon.
Mr. Nixon, a major force in developing the national plan, said that the visit by sister territories' representatives was initiated by the British Foreign and Commonwealth (FCO) Disaster Adviser for the Overseas Territories, Mr. Roger Bellers. The adviser visited Cayman last year, when he had an opportunity to observe the 2002 mock exercise.
The BVI has nominated Mr. Dale Lake, of the Department of Disaster Management, while Mr. Horatio Tuit will represent Montserrat's Emergency Department. In addition to observing Cayman's response activities, the visiting COT experts will share valuable insights from their experience in handling similar emergency-related activities in their own countries.
The NHC strongly urges residents and businesses to 'take their cue' from this exercise and set aside time to go through a similar testing of residential or business plans before the start of the hurricane season.