Savanna-La-Mar Mayor Urges Residents to Heed Hurricane Warnings

Citizens of Westmoreland are being implored to take the warnings about Hurricane Beryl seriously.

Mayor of Savanna-la-Mar, Councillor Danree Delancy, in making the call, said some persons remain skeptical about the possible impact of the system.

“This is a very serious situation. We are all God-fearing people… most of us believe in prayer, yes… I encourage us to pray. But faith without works is dead. Prepare, while praying. Prepare because the hurricane can have devastating consequences on us if we don’t,” he told JIS News.

“It is best to prepare for it and it doesn’t come, than not to be prepared and it hits us. Please take it seriously, please be prepared. Whatever you can do in your small corner to prepare, please do so,” Councillor Delancy appealed.

The Mayor further encouraged residents to keep up-to-date with information being released about the system and be aware of the nearest hurricane shelter.

He also implored citizens to assist their neighbours who may be elderly or have physical challenges.

Meanwhile, Councillor Delancy noted that drain cleaning activities are ongoing to mitigate flooding, particularly in the Savanna-la-Mar area, and urges citizens to assist the process by practicing responsible garbage disposal.

He noted that an emergency operating centre meeting was held at the Municipal Corporation on July 1 to address the parish’s preparedness, and a meeting of the Disaster Preparedness and Management Committee is slated for July 2.

“Further discussions will ensue with regards to shelters and shelter managers. We have our shelters ready. Only two shelters are not ready and, hopefully, by the end of the day [July 2], we should have those sorted out,” Councillor Delancy said.

Hurricane Beryl is expected to impact the island on Wednesday (July 3).