By Chantalé Fletcher
ALL hands on deck as Tobago prepares to face the impending effects on Hurricane Beryl.
At a virtual media briefing on Saturday, Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Farley Augustine said he met with various bodies to put measures in place.
However, he told Tobagonians, “We are preparing for the worst but praying for the best.”
Augustine said the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC) was prepared to place standby portable generators strategically in areas to provide limited electricity should there be an outage.
Also the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) gave their assurance that as long as there was electricity, water would reach varying areas.
In the matters of telecommunications, Augustine said Digicel, Flow and TSTT cell sites were equipped with working generators.
He said the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) and the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service (TTFS) were also on standby.
The Chief Secretary said the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) was also prepared with vehicles, and all outlets were equipped with flashlights, mattress, water, chainsaws and other essentials if needed.
Additionally, he added the THA has considered the activation of the relief centre at Charlottesville and CERT centre at Speyside which was 90% completed but could be used.
On matters of health, Augustine assured the public that the Tobago Regional Health Authority (TRHA) was fully equipped and ready for any responses.
He also announced that the TRHA was in the process of moving their dialysis operations from Monday to Sunday due to the weather effects.
Augustine said Community Development and the Education Ministry were also prepared to utilise some centres and schools as shelter facilities.
Despite the preparations, he cautioned citizens that this was not a moment to panic.
Instead, Augustine reminded the public they should have secured their documents, have canned food, torch lights, first aid kits, lamps and other essentials at hand to avoid panic purchasing.
