Storm Watch August 2013

2. SUNDAY SUN SPECIAL

stories b y NICK NUNES and TYSON WEEKES

ON JULY 8, 2013, Barbadians w aited with bated breath as Tropical Stor m Chantal , the third system for the season, sped tow ards the island’ s shores.

Earlier that Monda y, after receiving the ne ws of Chantal’s imminent and unw elcomed visit, Bajans made the typical dash to gas stations, hardware stores and super markets. It w as lik e clockwor k.

It is neither har sh nor exaggerated to describe the approach to hur ricane preparedness on the island as lackadaisical. There has been no major disaster to hit in year s despite se veral near misses – a revelation that has led man y locals to announce God’s Barbadian citizenship.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), an American federal scientific agency , forecast 21 named stor ms (63 km/h winds or higher) for this year . Of these 21, the NOAA has predicted that as man y as 11 are lik ely to become hurricanes (winds of 119 km/h or higher).

With a potentially long season ahead, Barbadians will have to guard against complacency because the ramifications of being unprepared during a stor m are serious.

Long before a stor m or hur ricane heads in Barbados’ direction, there are a list of things that you must do to get ready. Preparedness reminder s usually advocate shelter locations, ensuring that both the roof and the windows are leak and wind resistant, and that the gutters are clear so as to a void flooding .

In addition to the oft-repeated advisories to stock up • Continued on next page.

AUGUST 25, 2013

DONT BE caught off-guard in the unlik ely e vent of a stor m or a hur ricane. Mak e sure to stock up on the necessities w ay ahead of time. (FPs)

SUNDAY SUN SPECIAL. 3

• From Page 2. on non-perishable food and bottles of water, there needs to be cognizance of man y other tips.

For instance, are you a ware of the various kinds of fires that can be caused during a stor m and are you equipped to extinguish them? In case of flooding , roof damage, or wor se – do you ha ve the necessar y plans in place and tools needed to successfully evacuate to safety?

Many of the deaths recorded during disaster s are actually not of people who w ere indoor s. While a lot of the stor m-related deaths ha ve been a result of buildings collapsing , strokes and hear t attacks (or other heart-related causes), drowning w as one of the highest causes of death during stor ms.

Flash floods are the biggest risk, not to people in homes but to those on foot, in car s and on mak eshift flotation de vices. The cur rent caused by fast-mo ving water is stronger than many imagine, so tak e this into consideration when formulating e vacuation plans.

Coping with the after math of bad weather can be sometimes more taxing than the actual stor m. It is better to guard your interests b y thinking long ter m and ensuring that you are familiar with w ays to cope with a wor st-case scenario.

Histor y shows that the lack of hurricane a wareness and preparation is a common characteristic among all major hur ricane disaster s. Looking forward, scientists are expecting hurricanes to not only increase in quantity but also intensity .

As the climate continually gets warmer, the domino effect caused b y this heat leads to the melting of glaciers which, according to

WIN A

DURING A HURRICANE or stor m flash floods pose the biggest risk to road user s.

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meteorologists and climate specialists, contributes to hur ricane strengthening .

An explanation for this is that when combined with the searing heat of the sun, water e vaporates to for m moist air and this process ominously makes the Ear th more susceptible to hurricane for mation and strengthening .

There is recent e vidence of some of the fiercest hur ricanes in histor y developing more frequently and consistently . Just last year , Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc, completely flattening towns along the United States east coast.

In 2005, the year of Hurricane Katrina, meteorologists unprecedentedly exhausted the list of 21 names when se ven more storms de veloped tow ards the end of the season. Of the 28 systems, 15 de veloped into hur ricanes and se ven were major.

Even though eight year s ha ve passed, many par ts of the Ne w Orleans and Gulf Coast areas in the United States are still rebuilding after the Katrina decimation. Are you tr uly prepared to mak e it through this stor m season unscathed? Assess your preparedness b y using this 20-page Storm Watch feature as a guide.

(TW)

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(RC)

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4. SUNDAY SUN SPECIAL

AUGUST 25, 2013

WHILE W ATER is good, too much can be bad, especially for your vehicle. Be wise and plan routes to avoid potential flooding. (GP)

HAVE Y OU DEVISED an evacuation route, located the nearest shelter s, filled up your car's gas tank or made ar rangements for alternative transpor tation? Did you remember to collect as much w ater and non-perishable food to last at least a couple w eeks? Are your valuable documents (passpor t, owner ship deeds, diplomas and so on) secured in a w ater and/or fireproof container? Great! K eep reading as w e will share some more basic tips on how to k eep your self and your family safe this hur ricane season.

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Before the stor m If you live outside of flood prone or coastal areas and your home’ s foundation is secure from land slippage, you can sta y at home but be sure to tak e these precautions: • Make sure your windows are protected and your home is secure. • Make sure you ha ve water, non-perishable food, medication and don’ t forget that non-electric can opener . • Clean as man y large container s as possible for storing drinking w ater and plan for one gallon per per son per da y for all uses (including flushing the toilet). (TW) CATCH AS MUCH water as possible to ensure that your every day uses, can be met easily during any outages. (GP)

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AUGUST 25, 2013

SUNDAY SUN SPECIAL. 5

WHETHER IN the initial stages or completion, insuring your precious abode is ver y impor tant in threatening weather. (GP) EVEN THOUGH THE HURRICANE SEASON is w ell underway, it is not too late to tak e time to re view your homeowners insurance that to mak e sure you have the co verage you need.

Just last year , president of the General Insurance Association of Barbados, Michael Holder, disclosed that approximately $25 million in claims was paid out as a result of 1 700 repor ted claims. These claims, which were due to damage caused

by Tropical Stor m Tomas which hit in October , 2010, show how expensive the damage caused b y stor ms can be.

Holder indicated that when e valuating claims, insurance companies discovered that properties w ere underinsured.

He appealed to those insured under such circumstances to rene w their insurance policies to ensure that they included replacement costs.

Here are some tips on how to prepare in advance for a potential disaster : • Review your insurance policy e very year and make sure you ha ve the

coverage you need.

Policyholders need to have enough coverage to fully protect themselves in the e vent of a total loss.

In par ticular, pay attention to the exclusions and policy limits written into your policy and be a ware of the deductible and type of replacement cost. • Take an in ventory of the contents of your home now. This information can be vital if you ha ve to file a claim with your insurance compan y.

In case disaster does unfor tunately strike, make sure to carefully inspect your home inside and out to mak e sure you notice all the damage (whether minor or se vere) caused by the stor m.

In addition, it is in your best interest to tak e photographs to document all storm-related damage.

Once you ha ve assessed and documented the damage caused b y the storm, repor t the damage to your insurance compan y so that it can open a claim file and mak e its assessment of the damage. (TW)

6. SUNDAY SUN SPECIAL

AUGUST 25, 2013

YOU DON’T KNOW if your home will be subject to any kind of battering , so inspect your home for possible repairs.

(FP)

IT’S AUGUST and that means ’ tis the season to be steady . And home readiness is no jok e with the increasing frequency and strength of hur ricanes with e very inter val. Luckily , Barbados has been blessed with a low number of catastrophic cataclysms, but that is no reason for us to rest on our laurels when nature’s cour se rarely bends to the predictions.

Many aspects of home readiness can be minimal if frequent maintenance is obser ved throughout the year . Leak y ceilings, small cracks in walls and rick ety hinges can spiral into devastating infrastr ucture damage if not pre-emptively addressed.

•Continued on next page.

AUGUST 25, 2013

SUNDAY SUN SPECIAL. 7

• From Page 6.

Take a tour of your home and inspect for potential w eak areas in the wor st of scenarios. A hea vy potted plant can easily become a dangerous projectile in 200 km/hr winds.

Lawn and hanging or naments should also catch your e ye. When hur ricane force winds blow , those tin y leaks and unreinforced boards can become floodgates to the wrath of an indifferent gale. Be cer tain to ha ve a quick in-place contingency plan for making your abode sound and stor m wor thy.

Up on the roof, reser ve a good amount of time to inspecting your tiles, shingles or galvanized house hat. Replacing damaged areas is the best option, best to patch leaks before the le vee breaks.

Any weakness on top of your house can easily translate to unrelenting wind and water damage if left untreated.

P oorly attached galvanize can be peeled back lik e a tuna can and unsecured shingles and tiles can create a domino effect under extreme stress.

Doors are gate ways to your domicile; best not to leave them without reinforcement against the potential of a hea vy hitting hur ricane. W ell kept hinges and sturdy materials are their own re ward in the long r un.

Take a trip to the hard ware store and ask a fe w questions about the durability of your home.

Do not neglect your windows. Wind alone can decimate the frames and debris in the fra y ramps up the need for safety. If you can’ t afford stor m shutter s, some good 3-4inch plywood cut to fit and w ell for tified should do the trick.

Know the landscape of your per sonal proper ty. Take

OUTDOOR SKILLS and general sur vival techniques should be more commonly encouraged and practiced. F amiliarity with your sur roundings and dynamic planning for all circumstances should be a de facto aspect of univer sal knowledge.

Especially in regard to civilizations living in the tropical regions of the wor ld, the potential for de vastating stor ms should not just be accepted but prepared for by educating the general populous on basic emergency skills.

Despite the relative luck of Barbados’ aversion to climatological de vastation, a sound reser ve of critical knowledge in crisis handling can pro ve be tr uly pr udent.

The Barbados Red Cross Society exists as a driving force to facilitate the training and gaining of knowledge necessar y to under take and o vercome a variety of region specific situations.

The desire to lear n and impro ve on an y aspect, especially in relation to per sonal and community w elfare or better ment, should be nur tured. With the focus community education and institutional preparedness, volunteering with the Red Cross is a valuable option for those concerned with increasing their le vel of awareness.

The Red Cross has in valuable tools at its disposal for the training of community member s, individuals or businesses, in an ar ray of practical, vital and resourceful assets. The non-profit organization offer s cour ses in disaster management as w ell as man y other

REMEMBER THA T WHILE your lawn, garden and the like may be beautiful, keeping items lik e pots can become ver y deadly in high winds. (FP) a macroscopic look around your home and account for the potential of e ven small trees and an y objects not firmly attached to the ground.

Know the contour s of your land. F ind out the lik ely areas to enable w ater accumulation and circumvent the potential for that disaster before its need. Sealing cracked concrete can eliminate the potential for another hea vy weight projectile.

If you k eep up to date on your home repair s, informed on the situation of the hur ricane season and have your emergency supplies and contingency plans set, then you should be ready to w eather an y prospective stor ms. (NN)

emergency roles. V olunteers from the community can be trained as community disaster response team member s, with schooling pro vided in areas such as: • Fire safety and pre vention • Basic search and rescue • First aid • Initial damage assessment • Initial psycho-social care • Shelter management Whether you tak e a class, volunteer aid or donate to the Red Cross, you are furthering the ability of the community to pull together and pre vail when tragedy strik es.

Akin to the effor ts of the Barbados Red Cross, the Barbados Depar tment of Emergency Management (DEM) strives to promote and maintain a comprehensive national disaster management programme.

Through the offering of classes, hands-on training , hurricane tracking and the use of volunteer s, the DEM also ser ves as an impor tant resource to be utilized in the pur suit of knowledge expansion and development of per sonal and community preparedness.

Regardless of the se verity of past hurricanes, readying your self and your community for an y possibility of catastrophic occur rences can only ser ve to strengthen and unite people. Rather than flipping the coin on your safety , take the chance to advance your le vel of vigilance before necessity dictates. (NN)

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8. SUNDAY SUN SPECIAL

AUGUST 25, 2013

IT GOES WITHOUT sa ying to exercise caution and common sense to avoid unnecessar y ventures outside during a stor m, since dangerous weather may be at play. (FP)

HOWLING WINDS, lightning , thunder and tor rential rain can mak e storms and hur ricanes quite intimidating . Follow these tips for staying safe in your home during the ordeal: • Stay inside and a way from windows, sk ylights and glass door s.

Find a safe area in your home (an interior room, a closet or bathroom).

• If flooding threatens your home, turn off electricity at the main break er.

• In anticipation of pow er outages, turn off and unplug major appliances to a void damage to them from potential voltage spik es caused b y thunder.

• Do not use your computer or an y other electrical gadgets such as por table or cellular phones and inter net modems/router s.

• Do not go outside. If the e ye of the stor m passes o ver your area, there will be a shor t period of calm but at the other side of the e ye, the wind speed rapidly increases to hur ricane force and will come from the opposite direction. A void the temptation to go outside to see what the wind feels lik e because there ma y be flying debris.

Along with flooding , flying debris accounts for a majority of fatalities during stor ms. (TW)

REMEMBER TO KEEP essential appliances unplugged to avert any potential damage owing to causes from thunder or electrical spikes. (FP)

DON’T BE CAUGHT OFF GUARD… Install locally manufactured hurricane straps and shutters; stock up on non-perishable food items such as canned meats, juices, biscuits and medical supplies; and stay tuned to local radio stations for weather advisories.

Check your Supermarket, Pharmacy and Hardware Store for locally made supplies

MANAGED BY THE BARBADOS MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIATION

Suite 201, Building #8, Harbour Industrial Estate, St. Michael.

Tel: (246) 426-4474 Fax: (246) 436-5182 Email: info@bma.bb

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AUGUST 25, 2013 BEFORE DISASTER HITS, pet owner s should consider the safety of their pets in the e vent the worst comes to pass. It is good practice to maintain an emergency kit, not only for your self and your family, but for your pets as w ell.

Ideally, a pet kit should contain the rele vant supplies needed in case of a disaster . All pets should ha ve identification collar s with rele vant information and owner s should maintain an up to date photographic record of each pet.

When compiling a disaster kit for your pet, it is good to look into purchasing a car rier or a cage for your animal. Mak e cer tain that all the supplies in your kit are mar ked and accounted for with owner infor mation.

What to pack inside your pet kit Detailed list of belongings Identification Leash or har ness Muzzle (if necessar y) Medication Vaccination/medical records Food for two to four da ys Water for two to four days Food/water bowls Special care instructions Newspaper and trash bags for clean-up Animals ha ve more acute hearing and heightened awareness of natural phenomena than humans do.

During a hurricane with thunder , lightning and high winds, animals are lik ely to become agitated and scared.

A hur ricane is a low pressure system; dogs and cats can sense this change and ma y become disorientated. It is impor tant to heed w eather warnings and ensure their safety . Animals left on leashes outdoor s or in insubstantial outside shelter s risk being injured b y debris or b y their own struggles to find sanctuar y from the stor m.

If you are unable to mak e arrangements for your pets to be fostered at a safe area during the stor m, it is best to find a shelter or pet friendly hotel that can ser ve as a temporar y home for you and your pet during the critical period.

Those who intend to sta y put during a hur ricane should remember that the pressure change can confuse your animal’ s senses and cause them to become frantic. P ets should be k ept comfor table and safe from falling or breakable objects if the y are being safeguarded indoor s during the stor m.

The bathroom is a good place to k eep dogs and cats to ha ve them cor ralled and abated.

Even with ample food and w ater in your home, it is best not to lea ve your pet alone during a major tropical stor m. After stor ms, scents and landmar ks may have changed. This alteration of en vironment should be tak en into account when reintroducing your pet to once familiar proper ties. It is impor tant to keep dogs on their leashes until the y are able to orient themselves and become more confident in their sur roundings.

It’s good to remember that, for disaster preparedness, canned tuna is full of protein and a healthy supply stock can benefit both your family and your pets. Mak e sure to set up your e vacuation plan and emergency kits before the action is necessar y. Preparedness will facilitate a smooth, routine la yout of steps to be tak en in the e vent of a catastrophe and you can stand fir m in the face of natural chaos.

(NN)

• • • • • • • • • • •

SUNDAY SUN SPECIAL. 9 JUST LIKE HUMANS, animals are afraid of thunder and lightning so when preparing for a hur ricane it is impor tant to mak e arrangements for your pets. (FPs)

AFTER • Keep your radios tuned to a local station. Many precautionary steps must be taken after a hurricane passes.

• Keep your radio tuned continuously to a local station for frequent hurricane updates.

• Stay inside! Leave only if ordered to evacuate.

• If you must drive, watch for falling trees, fallen wires and flooding.

• Keep one window slightly open on the leeward side of your house. If a window breaks, go to an interior room to avoid injury from flying glass.

• Use your telephone for emergency calls only.

• If the eye of the storm passes over your house, stay inside! The winds will return suddenly –possibly with even greater force.

DURING

• Keep your radios tuned to one of the local stations.

Make certain the batteries are fresh in your portable radio.

• Stay away from beaches and other low-lying areas which may be swept by high tides or storm waves.

Leave early! Roads to high ground may become impassable hours before the hurricane hits land.

• Store anything that could blow away: garbage cans, garden tools, furniture and plants. Remove tree limbs that could fall on your house or power lines.

• Lock garage doors. Awnings should be tied securely or taken down. Board up windows.

• Do not drain your swimming pool. Turn off all electrical pool equipment. Add extra chlorine to avoid contamination.

• Boats should be hauled out or moored strongly.

• Do not try to secure your boat in rough water.

• Make certain your car is safe – preferably in a garage. Fill your tank with gasoline.

• Keep your flashlight in good working order. Be very careful if you use candles and/or portable cooking equipment.

• Fill clean containers with drinking water. Put large water container in the bathroom. Toilets will not flush if water supply is interrupted. Fill bathtubs and sinks.

• Be sure you have plenty of non-perishable food on hand.

• Fire can be a serious problem. Have a good fire extinguisher nearby. An alternative is a bucket of sand.

BEFORE

o o

o o o o

o o o o o o

Time (CDT)

Direction

Forward Speed (mph)

Central Pressure (inches Hg.) Maximum Wind (mph)

Lon gi (°Wtude )

o o o o o

Movement

Intensity

Forecast

AMBULANCE SERVICE QEH........... 511

Q.E.H HOSPITAL...........436-6450

FIRE EMERGENCY............311

EMERGENCY........... 436-6185 OR 427-8819

COAST GUARD & DEFENSE FORCE

7575

(CDERA) ............ 427-8513 OR 422-7725 /438-

DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

POLICE EMERGENCY...........211

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Extra drinking water TV antenna taken down Tubs and sinks filled with water Fire extinguisher Plenty well stocked: canned goods, milk, dry cereal , baby food, powdered drinks and lots of EVE products

CHECKLIST FOR A HURRICANE WARNING

Date

Battery-operated radio Pets inside or otherwise protected Functional flashlights Loose outside objects stored or secured Batteries for radio and flashlights First aid kit with bandages, adhesive tapes, antiseptics, etc.

Candles and plenty of matches Car tank filled with gasoline Extra ice in freezer Extra supply of prescription or emergency medications Gas for your cooking unit Tree branches tied or cut

Storm Name

Stock up for the hurricane season with Eve non-perishable foods.

When any disaster threatens, The NATION newspaper is your port in the storm. As soon as a hurricane is brewing in our area, you get on-the-scene coverage from The NATION’s award-winning reporters and photographers.

Get all of the stories – the whole picture – in The NATION newspaper and on nationnews.com

Your best protection is to stay informed by getting the details from radio bulletins.

A Tropical Storm Warning is issued for areas not directly affected by the hurricane. A Tropical Storm Warning is issued when possible sustained winds within the range of 39 to 73 mph are expected within 24 hours or less.

A Hurricane Warning is issued when forecasters believe the island will suffer hurricane damage. A Hurricane Warning is issued when winds are expected to sustain 74 mph or higher within 24 hours or less. When a Hurricane Warning is issued listen to your radio stations continuously and take all safety precautions.

A Hurricane Watch is posted for Barbados when a hurricane or an incipient hurricane condition poses a possible threat to the island. A Hurricane Watch does not indicate immediate danger. However, safety precautions requiring more than 18 hours to complete, should be started immediately.

When the stations broadcast a hurricane advisory, use the chart below to note the pertinent information. Then mark the location of the hurricane on the tracking chart.

When a hurricane forms radio stations in Barbados will provide its eye position by latitude and longitude. (For example, latitude 12.5 degrees north and longitude 40.6 degrees west)

Always keep your radios tuned to a local station since they give regular & reliable bulletins

HOW TO TRACK A HURRICANE

• Make a list of storm damage to your home. Take photographs of the damage for Insurance purposes.

• Open freezers and ice chest only when necessary until power is restored.

• Stay away from disaster areas! Stay away from broken and low-hanging power lines. Notify police or the utility company of the damage.

• Stay home! Do not drive!

Lat itu (°N) de

HURRICANE PRECAUTIONS

Forward Speed (mph)

Position

Direction

Caribbean Sea

Increasing

Atlantic Ocean

Decreasing

HURRICANE TRACKING CHART

10. SUNDAY SUN SPECIAL AUGUST 25, 2013

AUGUST 25, 2013 SUNDAY SUN SPECIAL. 11

AFTER • Keep your radios tuned to a local station. Many precautionary steps must be taken after a hurricane passes.

• Keep your radio tuned continuously to a local station for frequent hurricane updates.

• Stay inside! Leave only if ordered to evacuate.

• If you must drive, watch for falling trees, fallen wires and flooding.

• Keep one window slightly open on the leeward side of your house. If a window breaks, go to an interior room to avoid injury from flying glass.

• Use your telephone for emergency calls only.

• If the eye of the storm passes over your house, stay inside! The winds will return suddenly –possibly with even greater force.

DURING

• Keep your radios tuned to one of the local stations.

Make certain the batteries are fresh in your portable radio.

• Stay away from beaches and other low-lying areas which may be swept by high tides or storm waves.

Leave early! Roads to high ground may become impassable hours before the hurricane hits land.

• Store anything that could blow away: garbage cans, garden tools, furniture and plants. Remove tree limbs that could fall on your house or power lines.

• Lock garage doors. Awnings should be tied securely or taken down. Board up windows.

• Do not drain your swimming pool. Turn off all electrical pool equipment. Add extra chlorine to avoid contamination.

• Boats should be hauled out or moored strongly.

• Do not try to secure your boat in rough water.

• Make certain your car is safe – preferably in a garage. Fill your tank with gasoline.

• Keep your flashlight in good working order. Be very careful if you use candles and/or portable cooking equipment.

• Fill clean containers with drinking water. Put large water container in the bathroom. Toilets will not flush if water supply is interrupted. Fill bathtubs and sinks.

• Be sure you have plenty of non-perishable food on hand.

• Fire can be a serious problem. Have a good fire extinguisher nearby. An alternative is a bucket of sand.

BEFORE

o o

o o o o

o o o o o o

Time (CDT)

Direction

Forward Speed (mph)

Central Pressure (inches Hg.) Maximum Wind (mph)

Lon gi (°Wtude )

o o o o o

Movement

Intensity

Forecast

AMBULANCE SERVICE QEH........... 511

Q.E.H HOSPITAL...........436-6450

FIRE EMERGENCY............311

EMERGENCY........... 436-6185 OR 427-8819

COAST GUARD & DEFENSE FORCE

7575

(CDERA) ............ 427-8513 OR 422-7725 /438-

DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

POLICE EMERGENCY...........211

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Extra drinking water TV antenna taken down Tubs and sinks filled with water Fire extinguisher Plenty well stocked: canned goods, milk, dry cereal , baby food, powdered drinks and lots of EVE products

CHECKLIST FOR A HURRICANE WARNING

Date

Battery-operated radio Pets inside or otherwise protected Functional flashlights Loose outside objects stored or secured Batteries for radio and flashlights First aid kit with bandages, adhesive tapes, antiseptics, etc.

Candles and plenty of matches Car tank filled with gasoline Extra ice in freezer Extra supply of prescription or emergency medications Gas for your cooking unit Tree branches tied or cut

Storm Name

Stock up for the hurricane season with Eve non-perishable foods.

When any disaster threatens, The NATION newspaper is your port in the storm. As soon as a hurricane is brewing in our area, you get on-the-scene coverage from The NATION’s award-winning reporters and photographers.

Get all of the stories – the whole picture – in The NATION newspaper and on nationnews.com

Your best protection is to stay informed by getting the details from radio bulletins.

A Tropical Storm Warning is issued for areas not directly affected by the hurricane. A Tropical Storm Warning is issued when possible sustained winds within the range of 39 to 73 mph are expected within 24 hours or less.

A Hurricane Warning is issued when forecasters believe the island will suffer hurricane damage. A Hurricane Warning is issued when winds are expected to sustain 74 mph or higher within 24 hours or less. When a Hurricane Warning is issued listen to your radio stations continuously and take all safety precautions.

A Hurricane Watch is posted for Barbados when a hurricane or an incipient hurricane condition poses a possible threat to the island. A Hurricane Watch does not indicate immediate danger. However, safety precautions requiring more than 18 hours to complete, should be started immediately.

When the stations broadcast a hurricane advisory, use the chart below to note the pertinent information. Then mark the location of the hurricane on the tracking chart.

When a hurricane forms radio stations in Barbados will provide its eye position by latitude and longitude. (For example, latitude 12.5 degrees north and longitude 40.6 degrees west)

Always keep your radios tuned to a local station since they give regular & reliable bulletins

HOW TO TRACK A HURRICANE

• Make a list of storm damage to your home. Take photographs of the damage for Insurance purposes.

• Open freezers and ice chest only when necessary until power is restored.

• Stay away from disaster areas! Stay away from broken and low-hanging power lines. Notify police or the utility company of the damage.

• Stay home! Do not drive!

Lat itu (°N) de

HURRICANE PRECAUTIONS

Forward Speed (mph)

Position

Direction

Caribbean Sea

Increasing

Atlantic Ocean

Decreasing

HURRICANE TRACKING CHART

10. SUNDAY SUN SPECIAL AUGUST 25, 2013

AUGUST 25, 2013 SUNDAY SUN SPECIAL. 11

12. SUNDAY SUN SPECIAL

AUGUST 25, 2013

wounds.

INITIALLY DERIVED from French, the Ear plugs word “tampion” is originally a variant the of old F rench “tapon”, “piece When disaster s hit, they tend to of cloth to stop a hole”. come with loud noises. Or ma ybe you Aside from its mar keted use as a have a small child whose ear s you’ d feminine h ygiene product, the tampon like to k eep less w ater clogged. This has been used as ear ly as the 19th unconventional aid can be used as century to dress bullet wounds in either a noise dampener or to k eep wartime and is classed in the United out water and bacteria.

States b y the F ood & Dr ug Plug holes in boat Administration as a class two As stated ear lier, the packaging medical de vice. of tampons is her metically sealed and Beyond the stigma of purchasing waterproof. When tr ying to k eep w ater feminine h ygiene products as either in or out of a container , the a male, some women use them wrapping can b y pushed into your leak, and other s do not, they ser ve an stuffed with the plastic tubing and inescapable amount of functionality . further secured with the tactically The main use is ir relevant absorbent material. for sur vival pur poses of this list, Crude water filter of cour se that shouldn’ t deter The key word here is cr ude. you from purchasing a Cutting a plastic bottle in half, piercing preferred brand. a hole in the cap and replacing it and Think of the word tampon as then stuffing the absorbent material an acronym for the duration of inside the neck of the bottle will allow this ar ticle. It now stands for you in the fir st phase to filter mur ky or Theoretically Advanced Medic Purposed Or Nature Supplies (TAMPONS)

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Medical bandage The her metically sealed packages of tampons are made to be air and w ater tight. Inside this chamber , the contents are sterile. This mak es the super absorbent material inside the tube a perfectly functional makeshift wound co vering faux-gauze.

Stop those anno ying nose bleeds The made to order pur pose of tampons is geared tow ards maximum absorbency . In the case of a head or face injur y, one of these can be used to stop nose bleeds or other unfor tunate puncture

contaminated w ater. This method will clear the w ater of large, harmful par ticles and prepare for a second phase of filtration via boiling .

Crude sur vival stra w filter Using a similar method as abo ve, the plastic tubes of the tampon can be tak en apar t and a piece of the cotton placed inside the two pieces of plastic housing to create a stra w that will filter large par ticles from water. This method is slightly less effective than the pre vious tip.

Fire tinder By remo ving the cotton from the tampons and stretching the material into more fibrous bundles, one can create four ver y flammable balls of tinder to help feed your sur vival fire necessity .

Wick for impro vised candle By separating the string and coating it in oil, possibly obtained from a can of tuna in a sur vival scenario, it can be used as a shor t-term candle.

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Once the string is soak ed in oil, it can be placed inside a non-flammable casing and propped ver tically to be used as a small light source.

Waterproof match and fire tinder case Matches are a must-ha ve during an emergency situation and the y need to be k ept dr y. Place your matches, and other small materials that need to be safeguarded from w ater, inside the waterproof sheath of the tampons and wrap the opening close twice before securing with the string .

Blow tube for coal bur ning container s In the same manner that the plastic tubing can be made into a stra w, this time without the piece of cotton placed inside as a filter , the makeshift stra w can now be used to blow the ember s of bur ning materials to fan your small flames without extinguishing them.

Cordage The string can be remo ved and used as a secure tie for packaging .

Another use for the cordage would be to unra vel the string and use the remains as cr ude thread.

Survival fishing bobber If a last minute need for a fishing line float occur s, a small portion of the w aterproof packaging can be slightly inflated and closed off with the string , then attached to a fishing line to help pre vent your hook from sinking too far and indicate when you’ ve got a bite.

Accounts for the fir st creation of the tampon ma y be varied, but whether it was the ancient Eg yptians using papyrus or the ancient Greeks wrapped lint or wool, the design and uses ha ve no doubt expanded be yond the initial intent. (NN)

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A BOX OF TAMPONS is a must-ha ve for your hur ricane sur vival kit.

(GPs)

AUGUST 25, 2013

SUNDAY SUN SPECIAL. 13

WHAT’S UNDER the “hood”? Man y worthwhile parts, should a cellphone be rendered useless. (GP) IT HAS QUICKL Y become a trend in the 21st centur y for people to be more lik ely in the possession of a cellphone or other mobile de vice than it is for them to ha ve a librar y card. What good does ha ving a cellphone ser ve if a hur ricane has tak en out the communications tow er? Beneath the gorilla glass and plastic hard ware lie a useful ar ray of makeshift possibilities.

In the e vent that a stor m was to damage your cellphone be yond use, don’ t simply discard the device. Pr y into its inner wor kings and tak e a look at its concealed potential for sur vival aid.

Inside your de vice is lik ely to be a thin metallic sheet. Under disaster circumstances, a reflective surface can be a signal that sa ves your life. Using the little metal mir ror-like object, the sun can be reflected tow ards an open area aler ting a potential rescuer to your location.

If you can’ t see the sun, many mobile de vice speakers contain tin y magnets. There should not be a lack of tin y metal wires within the de vice as w ell.

Using one of the metal wires, this won’ t wor k with copper, rub the wire with the magnet in the same direction ten to 20 times and it should become faintly magnetized. By placing a tin y, light w eight leaf in some placid w ater and resting the magnetized

wire atop it, you ha ve created a tin y compass. The metal will align nor th to south and you can figure a general direction of tra vel from there.

Many situations in a disaster call for the use of a knife. The circuit board of an unusable cellphone can be shar pened to a point. By r ubbing the edges of a circuit board against a w et stone, the edges can become quite capable of becoming a blade. By strapping this mak eshift tool to a branch and tethering it securely , you ha ve just constr ucted a small sur vival knife.

The batter y of your mobile de vice can also ser ve as a one shot fire star ter in the absence of matches. Those tin y metal wires found inside the circuitry of the phone can be remo ved and used as a filament. Remember , attaching a single filament to the positive and negative ter minals of your batter y will tur n it red hot in seconds and can be used to ignite tinder if done quickly . If you happen to ha ve steel wool, rubbing it against the ter minals will cause the same effect for the heat to be transfer red to tinder for building a fire.

There are man y uses for a dismantled mobile phone, but if it is still functional then its intact purposes are far greater than an y use illustrated here. (NN)

YOU WOULD BE QUITE SURPRISED to disco ver the lesser known capabilities of your cellphone.

(GP)

Fax: 429-7867 I Email: inforotoplastics@caribsurf.com

14. SUNDAY SUN SPECIAL

AUGUST 25, 2013

RESEARCH HAS SHO WN that many pregnant women go into labour during emergencies and disaster s so ensure that you, as an expectant mother, are fully prepared.

(FP)

WHILE PREGNANT W OMEN should follow the general hurricane preparedness recommendations, they also need to tak e extra measures for themselves and their unborn child. If you are se ven to nine months pregnant when a hur ricane threatens, here are a fe w guidelines to follow before, during and after a natural disaster .

Before a disaster : preparation is k ey Let your doctor know where you will be in case of e vacuation.

Write a list of your prescription medicines and prenatal vitamins and k eep in a safe place.

Store a cop y of your prenatal medical records with other essentials (medication and so on).

If you are close to deliver y or ha ve a high-risk pregnancy, ask your doctor what is the safest option for you and your bab y.

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During a disaster : what to do in the case of e vacuation Pack a bag with extra mater nity clothes.

Stock up on snacks high in protein and low in fat. T ake sufficient bottled water (a gallon a da y is enough because you won’ t be cooking in a shelter).

Bring any medications and vitamins you are cur rently taking with you.

Keep copies of your bir th cer tificate as w ell as your doctor’ s contact infor mation.

Bring cash rather than be dependent on an A TM card.

Travel with k eys for an ything that is being left behind (car , home, safes and so on).

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After a disaster : sta ying health y If you ha ve to e vacuate, call the hospital, health centre or polyclinic to get infor mation on where you ma y receive care.

Do not eat an y food you ma y

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think has spoiled.

Staying hydrated is impor tant. Check to mak e sure the local w ater supply is safe to drink. If unsure, drink bottled w ater and boil tap w ater before drinking or bathing. (Boiling w ater for one minute kills most organisms) Avoid touching or w alking in flood w ater, as it can contain har mful bacteria. If you do touch it, wash w ell with soap.

Know the signs of labour . Contractions, leaking fluid or bleeding , backache, cramps and the sensation that your baby is pushing down are some signs of labour .

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Going into Labour There ha ve been findings to suppor t the theor y that many pregnant women go into labour during emergencies and disaster s. The reasoning for this is that during a hurricane, the rapid and steep drop in barometric pressure, or the w eight of the atmosphere pushing on the surface of the Ear th, can induce labour in women who are at or near ter m.

A non-experimental study at St Luk e’s Episcopal Hospital in Houston, Texas in 1992, concluded that “the o verall number of labour onsets increased in the 24 hour s following a significant drop in barometric pressure”.

Regardless of the findings, making preparations will go a long w ay to sparing expectant mother s from unnecessar y wor ry during pow er outages and stor m reco very.

With hur ricane season ha ving recently entered its peak (mid-August – late October), pregnant women need to remember to tak e extra precautions, as the y will go a long w ay in ensuring that things go smoothly , whether the y evacuate or sta y.

Upon retur ning home, if your home has been damaged, be a ware that bacteria and mould may have contaminated household items. Ask friends or family for assistance with cleaning up the damage.

Please note that pregnant women should ne ver car ry or lift hea vy items. (TW)

AUGUST 25, 2013

SUNDAY SUN SPECIAL. 15 KNOWING the differences are not only informative but essential for preparation.

Below is Hurricane Ivan as it appeared in 2011. (FP)

TROPICAL CYCLONES are said to be among nature’ s most pow erful and destr uctive phenomena. Here in Barbados w e are prone to them and e ven though a few locals ha ve proclaimed that “God is a Bajan”, this does not lessen the need to be prepared. Even areas w ell away from the coastline can be threatened by destr uctive winds, tor nadoes and flooding from these stor ms. How great is the danger? Let us put things into per spective b y first defining the different categories of cyclones.

A tropical cyclone is a rotating , organized system of clouds and thunder storms that originates o ver tropical or subtropical w aters and has a closed lowlevel circulation. T ropical cyclones rotate counterclockwise in the Nor thern Hemisphere.

• Tropical depression – A tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 38 mph or less.

• Tropical stor m – A tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph.

• Hurricane – A tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 74 to 95 mph or higher . In the western Nor th Pacific, hurricanes are called typhoons, while similar stor ms in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific Ocean are called cyclones.

• Major hur ricane – A tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 111 mph or higher , cor responding to a Categor y 3, 4 or 5.

A post-tropical cyclone is a system that no longer possesses sufficient tropical characteristics to be considered a tropical cyclone.

Post-tropical cyclones can still bring hea vy rain and high winds.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Uunited States’ federal scientific w eather agency , the hur ricane season’s peak is late August through to late October .

While hur ricanes pose the greatest threat to life and property, tropical stor ms and depressions can also be de vastating , as Barbadians realized in 2010 with Tropical Storm Tomas. In this instance, floods from heavy rains and winds caused extensive damage to homes and other proper ty throughout the island.

Knowing the different cyclones is impor tant, but just as impor tant is heeding the different warnings and advisories and under standing the difference betw een them. P eople often mak e the error in thinking that a w atch is synon ymous with a warning but this notion is incor rect.

By definition, a tropical stor m warning is an announcement that sustained winds of 63 to 118 km/hr are expected some where within the specified area within 36 hour s in association with a tropical cyclone. Con versely, a tropical stor m watch is an announcement that sustained winds of 63 to 119 km/hr are possible within the specified area within 48 hour s in association with a tropical cyclone.

Because hur ricane preparedness activities become difficult once winds reach tropical stor m force, hurricane w atches are usually issued 48 hour s in advance of the anticipated onset of tropical stor m force winds. By under standing the glossar y of k ey ter m and assessing your vulnerability, you will be able to tak e the necessar y actions in order to minimize the effects of disaster .

(TW)

16. SUNDAY SUN SPECIAL

AUGUST 25, 2013

AUGUST 25, 2013

SUNDAY SUN SPECIAL. 17

Andrea Barry Chantal Dorian Erin Fernand Gabrielle Humberto Ingrid Jerry Karen Lorenzo Melissa Nestor Olga Pablo

ENSURE YOU HAVE an adequate amount of fuel in your vehicle and a void the usual r ush at gas stations which comes with an approaching stor m.

(RC)

AT THE FIRST warning of an impending w eather system boat owner s should secure their vessels to avoid damage or loss. (RC)

THOUGH IT MA Y BE hard to resist going outside after a stor m passes, remember to sta y indoor s until the official all-clear is given. (RC)

Rebekah Sebastien Tanya Van Wendy

18. SUNDAY SUN SPECIAL

AUGUST 25, 2013

THE ILLUSTRA TION on this page identifies the 32 Categor y 1 Shelters on the island which may be used during a stor m or hurricane. Dalk eith Methodist Church in St Michael (pictured here) can accomodate 34 people.

(Picture b y Lennox De vonish.)

ST LUCY • Ignatius Byer Primar y • Connell Pentecostal House Of Pra yer

ST ANDREW

ST PETER

• A. DaCosta Ed wards Primar y

• Coleridge & P arry School

ST JOSEPH

• Roland Edwards Primar y

• St Ber nard’s Primar y

ST JAMES

ST JOHN

• Gordon Greenidge Primar y

• St John Primar y

• Queens College

ST THOMAS • Hillaby-Turners Hall Primary • Lester V aughan School

ST MICHAEL • Charles F. Broome Memorial Primar y • Combermere School • Ellerslie Secondar y School • George Lamming Primar y • St Leonard’s Bo ys’ Secondar y • St Matthe w’s Primar y • St Stephen’ s Primar y • Westbury Primar y • Black Rock Se venth Da y

ST PHILIP

Adventist • Dalkeith Methodist Church

ST GEORGE

CHRIST CHURCH • Arthur Smith Primar y • Blackman and Gollop Primar y

• Cuthber t Moore Primar y

• Christ Church F oundation School

• Ellerton Primar y

• Christ Church Gir l’s School • St Christopher Primar y

• Hilda Sk eene Primar y • Reynold Weekes Primar y • St Philip Primar y • Six Roads Church Of Christ

AUGUST 25, 2013

SUNDAY SUN SPECIAL. 19 TYPICALLY, more deaths and injuries occur after a hur ricane than during .

These mishaps come from people being too anxious to get outside and survey the damage, where the y come into contact with flood w aters, downed pow er lines or unstable trees and so on. F ollow these suggestions for sta ying safe after the hur ricane: • Remain indoor s until an official

PUBLIC shelter s are for people who ha ve no other place to go. If you must stay in a shelter , listen to ne ws broadcasts for announcements of shelter openings. Shelter volunteers do their best to mak e you comfor table but a shelter is not a ver y comfortable place. Sta y with friends or relatives if at all possible.

• Those with special medical needs (oxygen and so on) should go to special needs shelter s only.

Special needs shelter s do not pro vide hands-on medical care, only medical monitoring. Bring a caregiver with you if needed.

• Only ser vice animals are per mitted in public shelter s.

• Eat before you ar rive.

Meals ma y not be a vailable during the fir st 24 hour s.

Bring snacks.

• Bring your identification, valuable paper s and medication in their original container s.

• Bring bab y supplies.

• Bring blank ets’ sleeping bags and pillows. These are either not pro vided or limited in supply .

• Bring cards, games or books to pass the hour s.

• Bring flashlights and a batter y operated radio or TV with extra batteries for all.

• Stay inside and follow directions that are given for your comfor t and safety .

• You will not be allow ed outside until the official all clear. (TW)

all-clear is given.

• Do not touch fallen or low-hanging wires of an y kind under an y circumstances. Sta y away from puddles with wires in or near them.

Do not touch trees or other objects in contact with pow er lines.

• Call the utility companies immediately to repor t hazards such as downed pow er lines, broken gas

or water mains or o verturned gas tanks.

• Watch for w eakened roads, tree limbs and par ts of your home that could collapse unexpectedly .

• After pow er is restored, check refrigerated food for spoilage.

(Spoiled food is the cause of much sickness two da ys to a w eek after the stor m.) (TW)

Printed and Published by THE NATION PUBLISHING CO. LTD, Nation House, Fontabelle, St Michael, Barbados. Telephone (246) 430-5400