MISSION STATEMENT
To ensure that all persons who have invested in Holetown stand the best chance to maximise all their investments by building resilience to all hazards. The introduction of this committee seeks to protect life, property and the environment by developing, coordinating and managing programs and initiatives that prevent, prepare for, respond to, recover from and mitigate natural and man made disasters and emergencies. The committee will be subject to continuous and periodic assessment and revision, as the ever changing and developing trends of this small town reflects the continuous emerging threats and events. The committee’s objectives include:
- The monitoring and evaluation of current emergency strategies
- Seek to establish and enhance a community disaster preparedness effort and procedures
- Seek to develop and practice comprehensive emergency management practices germane to this area.
- Seek to maintain a supportive and working arrangement, that can result in the establishment of an optimum functional emergency management team The committee seeks to provide residents, business houses, private and public entities, governmental agencies, the opportunity to effectively work together to:
- Prevent and reduce the impact of an incident
- Prepare for what an impact may bring
- Respond to that impact
- Recover from that impact
The committee recognises that the financial potential and survival of residents and businesses in Holetown will continue to be threatened by human or man made disasters. Therefore, persons who reside, or who work in Holetown should not fail to collectively enhance wholesome emergency procedures and practices.
Current representatives on this committee are drawn from:
- Private and business sector
- Police
- Residents Association
- Medical fraternity
- Hotel and Restaurant sector
- Water Sports
- Fire Department
- Ministry of Public Works
- Health and safety interest
Here is a list of issues that has been brought to the attention of the committee:
- Comprehensive hazard planning
- Chemical emergencies
- Evacuation and sheltering
- Fire prevention/preparedness
- Flood & flash flooding
- Hazardous material incidents
- Emergency/disaster plans
- Disaster supply kits
- Terrorism
- Hurricane, storm surge. Tidal wave
- Conflict resolution and containment
- Training
- Coping with medical emergencies
Should you need more information or want to be part of this committee and its mandate, you are encouraged to contact us via this website.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Holetown Lagoon Project – September, 2009
Over the past two years of the existence of the Holetown Strategic Planning Group, the continuous build up of gravel, mud and debris in the Holetown Lagoon has been engaging the discussion at our meetings.
This water is posing a great threat as a result of the deposit of mud and gravel in the middle of the lagoon, therefore forcing water to encroach on car parks, and flow very close to existing buildings. One business house, which recently felt the impact of the encroaching water on their property, wrote the government agency responsible for drainage, and we are pleased that they responded relatively quickly. A meeting was held with the Director of the Drainage Unit and other officers from that department and representatives from the Holetown Strategic Planning Group.
The discussion was cordial and very informative, as the Director seems eager to respond to suggestions offered and has since reported that officers from that Department and contractors in that field of expertise will soon have a site meeting to determine an appropriate method to approach the problem within the shortest possible time.
The Holetown Planning committee therefore anticipates some progress in this matter and thank the Director and his staff for their prompt approach so far, and look forward for some work being done in the earliest possible time.
The annual flooding that residents in the vicinity of Trents pasture experience was also discussed by the committee. Proposals were favourably discussed and presented to the Director for his attention. The hurricane season so far has not delivered very heavy rainfall, but we cannot be complacent. It is our sincere wish that via these proposals, and the implementation and further assistance from the Drainage Unit, we would have contributed to the relief of the business sector and residents who have been greatly inconvenienced every year from the flood waters from higher elevations.
Should you need any further information on this matter or you see the need to get involved, especially if you have an interest in Holetown, feel free to email us at info@stjamescentraldeo.com. We will be glad to share this and any other activity which is currently engaging our attention.
Are you and your staff prepared for an emergency?
The St. James Central District Emergency Organisation can assist you to prepare for the worst. We can facilitate a team of professionals in the various fields associated with emergency preparedness and planning, to allow you to gain specific approaches that may allow you to be able to secure the right plan to fit your needs and location.
We can help you to:
- Assess your risk.
- Examine your mitigative procedures.
- Facilitate training for staff in emergency procedures.
- Help you to create an incident management system.
- Assist you to establish a recovery plan to return to “normal” as soon as possible.
Points to consider:
- a) Severe weather, fire, floods, loss of utilities, epidemic and hazardous materials.
Health and safety compliance are all examples that can affect your business and staff drastically. (Not only hurricanes).
- b) Examination of your mitigation procedures may consider staff training, back up systems, security and communications. What can be done to prevent a potential incident or to reduce the risk?
- c) The training of staff after a plan has been established will help to establish who does what, what gets done, when it is done and where it is done. Staff should always be trained to effectively carry out tasks in response to an emergency.
- d) Creating an incident management system and a set of written policies and procedures that addresses the key functions to create an effective, comprehensive system. For example what are the roles and responsibilities of these key personnel?
- Incident Manager
- Operations
- Planning
- Public Relations
- Administration
- Communications
- Safety
- Security
- e) A recovery plan will address how you get things back to normal as soon as possible after impact:
- Staffing requirements
- Damage to property and its consequences
- Delayed deliveries to clients or to your company
- Negative media
- Go to our website.
- Click on emergency plans
- Click on residential facility
- Read “Emergency Plan for Large Residential Facility”
Evacuation Procedures
An evacuation procedure is a clearly written procedure that directs persons to safety and quickly out of the building when the evacuation alarm or alert has been activated.
Let’s state some scenarios that can lead to the evacuation alert or order being given:
- Fire/Explosion in a section of the building
- Hazardous chemical spill
- Gas leaks
- Bomb threats
- Suspicious parcels found on premises
For a residential property the evacuation procedure may be just as crucial as a large property. occupants are often aware of all windows and doors, therefore one may expect to seek exit via one of these potential exit points, but sadly to say they may be blocked or impeded in one way or the other. Popular building practices have seen burglar bars and internal wrought iron gates being installed as devices to address potential burglars and theft.
For two storey properties this may be more acute. Families should always sit and look at establishing exit routes for every room, assign responsibilities on who should do what and to ensure potential exit routes are clearly defined and not blocked. They should seek advice on possible emergency exit devices for two storey houses and some burglar bars should have hinged access.
The knowledge of where and how utilities are located and how to turn off service is also vital, and form part of your evacuation procedures. To know where to go after you have safely exited your home, depending on the type and magnitude of the hazard is also vital. Methods to call for help and inform others of what is happening, where you are likely to go and accounting for persons who are likely to be home at the time is also important. Leaving your home with a grab bag containing vital personal medication, documents and cash should be deemed necessary after impact. Special attention should also be paid to executing your evacuation day or night as conditions may vary by day and night.
Building Alarm Devices:
- Audible Horns/Sirens
- Strobe Lights
- Ringing of Bells
To date most reasons for evacuations in Barbados have been as a result of:
- Fire
- Flood
- Bomb Threat
- Gas leak
- Sick building and respiratory issues
Other conditions that may give rise to an evacuation can include:
- Earthquake
- Hostage scenario
- Biological or chemical threat
An evacuation plan forms part of your overall emergency plan and should be assimilated annually
Tips for your consideration when preparing training for your staff.
- You may want to identify the strengths and the gaps in your system, and those persons to whom training will enhance their total development, capacity and performance.
- Secondly, what is your training budget? Having a clear idea on what funds are available will significantly determine what, and how far your scope of training will reach. The assessment of your needs and the budget available will help you to develop tailor made programs for your company. Other ideas to be considered to compliment your training requirements can be cross training and mentorship initiatives, and volunteering with appropriate agencies or non governmental organisations.
- You must clearly define the goals of the training, how long it will last, how will it be structured, what will be the projected outcomes and how will you evaluate further performance levels after completion of the training.
- Communicate your training plans, objectives and outcomes with staff. You need to encourage staff to see the win-win approach and the attainable benefits for all involved, the importance of the training and the positive outcomes.
- Set clear processes on how you plan to evaluate staff performances at the end of the training. You must document the needed changes, and be open to further training if necessary. Make sure your results can be quantified and measurable. Your future training and appraisal initiatives can assist you and your company to allow staff to develop those skills to succeed and improve your company.
Those staff members who have demonstrated extraordinary talents and skills should be commended and encouraged to access further training whenever possible. They can significantly help to boost the morale of those not so gifted, and encourage them to improve, but they must be given the technique and best practices approaches.
When employees realise that training schedules are an integral part of your company’s policy, and that there are incentives for successful completion, it gives most staff a sense of responsibility and ownership, as they respond to the changing needs of both company and the total development of staff.
