Barbadian Government warns public for Tropical Storm Elsa

The Barbadians have been warned by their government as the Tropical Storm Elsa would be going through the land of Barbados.

Wilfred Abrahams, Minister of Home Affairs, Information and Public Affairs, said that he requests the citizens of Barbadians to be ready for the arrival of Tropical Storm Elsa and also updated on the storm status at Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.

Wilfred Abrahams, Minister of Home Affairs, Information and Public Affairs, said that during the time period of the “freak storm”, Minister Abrahams also checked the “fragility” of properties on the island. They were expecting sustained storm force winds, sustained winds in excess of the winds that they would have a week and a half ago, so people need to look around their houses, make themselves prepared as they can be, pick up all the loose objects that could become missiles, clear the drains. If they had a well on their property, clear the waterways, and just make themselves as prepared as they could be.

Wilfred Abrahams said that all citizens had requested to clear their surroundings from the things that may change into missiles during the time of disaster. In the end, Abrahams said that the citizens should be responsible for their own safety. So it would be better to clean the surrounding at this given time.

Abrams also urged the Barbadians to secure everything that they wanted to get secure. To dispose of the garbage that would not have been taken for a long time, either take that garbage in their houses. Abrahams also said that the dustbin should also be taken inside the house.

Abrahams said that they were very concerned. They were concerned about the rain; they were worried about the water impact, but they were equally as worried about the wind and things becoming missiles.

PM Mia Amor Mottle of Barbados also ordered Minister Abrahams to call for cleaning the areas and properties and clearing away the loose items that may cause damage during the storm.

PM Mottley said that she found that in every major storm, they still had to remind people, anything that could fly and be lifted up by 30, 40, 50 miles of wind has been a missile, and a missile has the capability of killing and injuring people and to that extent, therefore, they had a couple of hours left. PM Mottley wants to urge people in communities to help one another. PM Mottley wants to encourage people to go and look around your house and look for anything that could literally cause that kind of damage. Citizens of Barbados have also been advised to remain joined with official channels for updates on Tropical Storm Elsa and not to rely on information shared by unknown sources via social media platforms.

Minister Abrahams advised to monitor the official government information sources, that include the Government Information Service, the Public Affairs Department, CBC and their official and reliable media partners. They would be updating them at least every hour on the progress of the system through the official sources. They had no reason to look anywhere else or forward things they were not sure of as to the origin.