A survey of North Side residents shows that fewer than 5 percent of families in the district have a disaster plan in place, according to the neighborhood emergency response team.
North Side has a significant number of elderly citizens who require extra care and help in some cases, said leader of the North Side Community Emergency Response Team, Teddie Ebanks.
Mr. Ebanks said his biggest concern was the number of families that do not have a plan to deal with any disaster.
The Community Emergency Response Team hosted the district gathering on Sept. 13, to observe the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Ivan and report on an assessment of risks residents face and the assets available to cope with those risks.
Mr. Ebanks said information was gathered through a “vulnerability and capacity assessment.”
Some risks are district-wide, such as the fact that North Side has one main road that is very near to the water in many areas, and therefore vulnerable to flooding. Large trees hanging over the roads can block passage and break power lines if they fall during a storm.
Individual risks observed by team members include large amounts of debris, unsecured propane tanks, and abandoned or dilapidated buildings. Some homes are still not equipped with hurricane shutters.
As a result of their observations, the CERT team contacted the government’s Hazard Management agency and, as a result, some of the most threatening trees were pruned this year.
Other assets, referred to as capacities, include the Craddock Ebanks Civic Centre and Clifton Hunter High School as hurricane shelters, and the fire station in Frank Sound. The Old Man Bay playing field is an open area that can be used for triage, as a staging area or even a landing pad. Team members prepared a district map to show the various capacities, including “high” or “safe” areas.
A seasonal calendar charted such factors as weather patterns, holidays and festivals and seasonal activities as a tool to identify times of stress or special risks or even to suggest a suitable time to implement a project.
Another visual aid the team devised was a pictogram, using images to explain the increase in population and development in North Side, the decline of industries such as thatching and shipbuilding and the occurrence of hurricanes.
They also distributed a pamphlet with this information.
The meeting featured brief comments from Red Cross disaster manager Danielle Coleman, who commended North Siders for their strong community spirit. Omar Afflick, Hazard Management deputy director for preparedness, encouraged CERT members to continue their proactive approach to disaster management and pledged Hazard Management’s support of their activities.
District MLA Ezzard Miller also addressed the gathering and was among those leading applause for performances by students of the recently renamed Edna Moyle Primary School.
Throughout the program, there was a slide show of scenes from Hurricane Ivan. Afterward, everyone was invited to enjoy fried fish and flitters, swanky and iced tea.
The CERT members who participated were mostly those who graduated from a 10-week training course in 2012.
Some risks are district-wide, such as the fact that North Side has one main road that is very near to the water in many areas, and therefore vulnerable to flooding.
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