Deputy Director for Mitigation McCleary Frederick told Cayman Net News that Hurricane Ivan’s devastation of Grand Cayman in September 2004 reminded everyone that no one is safe during a storm.

“Don’t wait until June 1, people must be making preparations all along and not wait for the start of the hurricane season to try and get prepared. They must always be prepared,” he said of the season, which ends on 30 November.

“I think one of the main lessons learnt from Ivan is that you don’t have to be close to the coast to be flooded, it can happen to anyone, so you can’t take your preparations for granted.”

According to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the storm inflicted US$3.4 billion worth in damage on the Cayman Islands.

Mr Frederick said he believes the populace is now conscious and are paying more attention, but there is need to be always prepared.

“We think we have also been prepared but I think over the years we have been lapsing in our willingness to prepare because there were no incidents, but since Ivan there have been a willingness and effort to prepare for the season,” he said.

“We will do the usual PR through {Government Information Services} GIS, we’re planning an exercise for later this month and all the subcommittees will be going through their regular preparedness prior to the start of the season.”

Outlined in the 2007-8 budget late last month is Government’s plan to spend $30.3 million in mitigating the Islands from storms and manmade disasters.

Financial Secretary Hon Kenneth Jefferson tabled the Budget Annual Plan and Estimates (AP&E) and the Annual Budget Statement, a supplementary document to the Appropriation (July 2007 to June 2008) Bill, in the Legislative Assembly on Friday 27 April.

“The objective of the government is to continue to build the capability necessary to deal with future disasters and speed up economic recovery,” the AP&E stated.

Out of the $30.3, an allocation of $3.7 million will go towards the construction of an office complex to house the Emergency Operations Centre, the National Hurricane Committee and the Meteorological Services at Halfway Pond in George Town.

Mr Frederick said a purpose-built Emergency Operations Centre would occupy the site, which is located at the back of the police station.

He said the project is in its initial stage and a design tender will be advertised in late July.

Other plans for the Emergency Operations Centre include the recruiting of an Operations Manager, Deputy Director for Operations and Deputy Director for Preparedness. Interviews for short-listed candidates will take place later this month.

Dr Barbara Carby is Director of the centre, which officially began operations in January 2007.

The budget also makes provision for strengthening the capacity of Hazard Management — $1.2 million for enhanced emergency management services and another $1.7 for the establishment of its headquarters.

The sum of $18 million has been allocated for the commencement of construction of a hurricane-resistant building for most Government departments and statutory authorities while $3 million has been earmarked for reconstruction of the Bodden Town Civic Centre.

Government has allocated $1 million for eastern districts sea walls to protect the main road from storm damage and $1.7 million for the Caribbean Risk Insurance Facility.

Subscription to the newly-established regional Risk Insurance Facility ensures quick available cash in the event of damage by hurricane or earthquake.

The ruling administration said that during this financial year disaster emergency response and readiness would be further strengthened through introduction of new legislation and amendments to an existing law.

Government said it would implement an Emergency Management Law clearly defining the roles of various agencies during such events. And, the National Roads Authority Law will be amended to improve management of storm water and tidal flooding of roads.

Meanwhile, the Public Works Department has issued its latest and Emergency Medical Centres (EMC) list.

Hurricane shelters are provided in each district. They are for persons whose homes are not hurricane resistant or who live in a location, which is considered to be especially at risk in a particular storm and who do not have an alternate safe shelter.

Emergency Medical Centres provide shelter for chronically ill persons, the elderly and women in the last three months of pregnancy. Medical personnel and equipment are provided at EMCs.

Grand Cayman will start the 2007 season with 4,010 hurricane shelter spaces, and the Sister Islands with 810.

Approved hurricane shelters for the 2007 hurricane season in Grand Cayman are: John Gray High School Assembly Hall, George Hicks High School Multipurpose Hall,  George Town Primary School Assembly Hall, University College of the Cayman Islands Hall,  Red Cross building, Prospect Primary School (EMC), John A. Cumber (West Bay), Primary School Assembly Hall (EMC), John A. Cumber (West Bay) Primary School – some classrooms, East End Primary School – some classrooms, Gun Bay Community Hall, East End Civic Centre (EMC), North Side Civic Centre (EMC), Breakers Community Hall, Bodden Town Primary School Multipurpose Hall (EMC), Savannah Primary School Assembly Hall (EMC).

Shelters for Cayman Brac are: Aston Rutty Centre (EMC), West End Primary School’s new Day Care Centre.

The hurricane shelter for Little Cayman is: The Public Works Department Building (EMC).

The Emergency Medical Centres for the 2007 hurricane season are: John A. Cumber (West Bay) Primary School Assembly Hall, Prospect Primary School, East End Civic Centre, North Side Civic Centre, Bodden Town Primary School Multipurpose Hall, Savannah Primary School Assembly Hall, Cayman Brac’s Aston Rutty Centre and Little Cayman’s Public Works Department building.

The named storms for the 2007 Atlantic basin are Andrea, Barry, Chantal, Dean, Erin, Felix, Gabrielle, Humberto, Ingrid, Jerry, Karen, Lorenzo, Melissa, Noel, Olga, Pablo, Rebekah, Sebastien, Tanya, Van, Wendy, Xuxa and Zena.