The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) continues to support the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government (MORDLG) to ensure all citizens affected by last week’s flooding, receive the necessary assistance to recover from their losses and discomfort. In particular, the ODPM in partnership with other state agencies is supporting the coordination of relief and recovery efforts throughout the Penal/Debe, Mayaro/Rio Claro and Siparia Regional Corporations.
Following a request from the Disaster Management Units (DMUs) of the MORDLG, the ODPM obtained assistance from the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force for the Regiment and the Coast Guard to support the DMUs in evacuating residents trapped by floodwater in their homes. To support the ground evacuation operations, the ODPM also coordinated for air reconnaissance to be conducted of the affected areas, by the Strategic Services Agency (SSA). These Formations also joined in the efforts to distribute relief supplies and to support clean-up operations.
On Sunday 15 December 2019 the CEO of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM), Major General (Ret’d) Rodney Smart led a team of ODPM representatives through the flood-affected communities in the Penal/Debe and Mayaro/Rio Claro Regional Corporations. During the exercise, they met with affected individuals, families and officials of the response agencies, to obtain a first-hand view of the ongoing relief and recovery efforts, and to ascertain what additional resources may be required by the Regional Corporations.
In the Penal/Debe Regional Corporation, the team conducted a walk-about and assessment in the worst affected areas including Ragoonanan Trace; Batchiya Village; Clarke Road; Wilson Road; Digity Trace; Rochard-Douglas Road and Barrackpore. The CEO also met with the Chairman of the Corporation, Dr Allen Sammy and reaffirmed the ODPM’s commitment to support any requests made by the Regional Corporation’s DMUs.
In the Mayaro/Rio Claro Regional Corporation, the ODPM officials teamed up with Mr Sean Kallipersad of the DMU and visited affected families and areas that were flooded. These communities included Poole Valley; Chrysosotom trace, Mafeking Village and Cedar Grove Road where floodwaters were subsiding, clean-up efforts and initial damage assessments had begun.
The ODPM will continue to provide the necessary support to assist individuals and families who were adversely affected by the inclement weather. Together, these communities with state support will build back better and become more resilient to flooding.
