In Case of Emergency...

There is significant reason to be alarmed as in one fifteen month season we have seen the horrific destruction nature can wreak in the suffering of both Haiti and Japan.

There have been other major events during that time with substantial loss of life and property, but these two tragic occurrences seem to cross all social divisions and demonstrates quite definitively that disaster is an equal opportunity offender.

There are ample reasons to be concerned.

There is nowhere on planet earth immune to the destructive effects of earthquakes, and while we have been blessed to be just outside the path of most major hurricanes, we are not going to beat those odds forever.

We need as a matter of urgency for all major stakeholders to convene simultaneous town hall meetings in all constituencies to identify area specific guidelines and to make known who to turn to and the system of authority if and when national systems fail.

They also need to know where to go if their communities are compromised due to disaster, where to gather with their loved ones either for rescue, shelter or aid.

These constituency plans should be bound together in a governing document outlining the national response to any major disaster so as to have a response should the worse occur.

The Ministries of Social Development and National Security should take lead on this so as to prepare simultaneously with the infrastructural needs of rescue and redeployment, and to create emergency relief supply depots throughout the country to prevent panic, injury and looting.

Something like a local government precinct plan should be created for all constituencies with a view to establishing an emergency chain of authority and bring the police, fire units, health care and other response teams in the area under one umbrella and in their direct control for the duration of the emergency or until National Government and communication is restored.

The Army and the Ministry of Works and Transport should also create a 'First Response' master plan to be deployed as soon as possible to clear all highways, main roads and thoroughfares as quickly as possible so as to help restore national communication and ease of movement of emergency, rescue and relief personnel.

This overall Emergency Master Plan should be made available to all citizens through websites, brochures, and other means so as to have the population informed and prepared.

The stark contrast in both tragedies brought live into our living rooms is how important it is to be prepared as a nation, as communities and as a people, and we should take whatever lessons we can and prepare ourselves in case of emergency.

Something to think about...