In the Aftermath

Determining your priorities in the aftermath of a hurricane depends very much on your particular circumstances.

However if you and your neighbours are in no immediate danger it would be wise to keep calm and make a plan as to what your next steps should be.

If you are a member of a DEO there should be a plan that would indicate precisely what steps should be taken by members to provide assistance to your community. As long as a hurricane has an effect on Barbados it will be necessary to make an assessment of the distress of individuals within the community.

Here are a few tips to assist all of you in your planning for your family and neighbours:

1. Seek medical attention for any persons that have been injured.
2. Do not touch loose or dangling wires.
3. Report damage to powerlines, water lines or sewers immediately.
4. Do not make yourself a nuisance by insisting that utilities be returned to your area immediately, bearing in mind that there are certain essential services that have to be addressed first and that the men and women that would have to come out to work have family and neighbours just like you, who might be in need of help.
5. Guard against using spoiled food if the electricity supply fails.
6. Drive cautiously - debris filled streets are dangerous. Soil may be washed from beneath pavements, which might collapse under the weight of vehicles.