Last week’s paper was filled with images of the impact of Hurricane Gonzalo on Anguilla. Since the passage of what we now know was a category 2 hurricane, we have been engaged in recovery efforts to ensure that the island returns to normalcy. Utility crews have been busy until late at night making efforts to restore electricity, cable and telephone communication. Roadside crews have been clearing the roads of debris. All of us have been cleaning and repairing our homes and yards after Gonzalo left, in its wake, broken windows and doors, waterlogged rooms, damaged roofs, collapsed walls and fences, uprooted trees and the like. It has been quite an ordeal.
In the aftermath of this somewhat unexpected hurricane, the question we must ask ourselves is: How prepared are we? With so little lead time between the formation of the system east of the Leeward Islands and its impact on Anguilla, the Department of Disaster Management must be commended for the steps taken before and after the hurricane to keep the public informed. While many of us were caught off guard by the ferocity of the hurricane that struck us and did not prepare our homes adequately, the question of preparedness goes way beyond individual considerations. Rather, it speaks to our level of preparedness from an institutional and infrastructural standpoint.
It is said that the way we build in Anguilla has been influenced by damage caused by hurricanes over the years. That being the case, we need to take this a couple steps further. For example, it is time that we move towards putting the infrastructure for utilities all underground instead of on poles which are more susceptible to damage. In constructing roads, we ought to ensure that there is provision for not only normal drainage but run off, in the event of a storm, without flooding neighbouring facilities. Schools and health institutions should be outfitted in a way that enables them to function in the aftermath of a disaster without dependence on the public supply of electricity or water. From an institutional standpoint, there must be contingency plans which allow for Government to function almost immediately after a disaster event. Apparently there were some Government Departments which could not function for up to four days after the hurricane. Obviously this is cause of concern and must be addressed in some way.
While triggered by the impact of Hurricane Gonzalo, my question about preparedness is not limited to hurricanes. We also have to give consideration to preparedness for mass casualty events. Are we in a position to adequately respond to events like plane crashes, for example? How much attention are we paying to our Fire and Rescue Service? Are we ensuring that not only are the personnel trained, but that they have the necessary tools and equipment needed to respond to a mass casualty event? These are questions that require serious consideration if we are to be prepared.
Another consideration must be the ferries which travel between Anguilla and St Martin every half an hour. We in Anguilla use ferries only a little less often than we use cars. If there is a ferryboat incident that could result in the loss of multiple lives, do we have the capacity in Anguilla to dispatch the necessary human and physical resources to save lives? If not, is there an institutional arrangement that we have with the St Martin/ St Maarten Government for them to dispatch resources in the event of an incident? In other words, with Anguillians traversing the water everyday, and ferries being the main means of entry into Anguilla by visitors, it would be a travesty if we are unable to successfully handle a ferry disaster. Apart from this, we also have to be proactive. Perhaps the time has come for a review of the standards required of ferryboats. It may be that they should all be required to have life rafts. Additionally, rather than simply carrying lifejackets, crew members should demonstrate how they are to be put on. Consideration may also be given to size and construction stipulations for ferries, all with a view to enhancing passenger safety.
When considering our level of preparedness, we ought not to limit our thoughts to natural disasters and mass casualty events, but we also have to give consideration to health-related disasters. The most talked about one, in recent time, being the devastating ebola virus. The hysteria this virus is causing around the world signals the simple fact that most countries are unprepared. National responses by some countries have therefore tended to be rash – and in some cases unjustifiable. In Anguilla, we too have to be concerned about the ebola virus. With the increasing ease of travel, we are not immune. We have heard that our Ministry of Health has been having some discussions about this matter. However, I believe we are becoming increasing anxious and we would like to hear, from our Ministry of Health and other Government Ministries, about the steps being taken to either prevent this virus from entering Anguilla, containing it if it is detected here, and treating those infected and affected. I believe that hearing of a concrete plan, from the relevant authorities, about how we are going to deal with the ebola virus would alleviate the mounting fear that seems to be pervading our communities.
This editorial may have posed more questions than provided answers, but it is simply designed to get us thinking about how prepared we really are to address issues which compromise or threaten the wellbeing and safety of the public – and hopefully design workable solutions that could minimize the threats.
