PRESS RELEASE – Moves are afoot locally to help protect and save lives of residents who may become at risk to intense flooding.
The possible loss of lives is a shocking reality for St Lucia and other Small Island Developing States (SIDS) that will be most affected by Climate Change, which will fuel a greater intensity and frequency of adverse weather systems like hurricanes and flash floods.
St Lucia`s Water Resource Management Agency (WRMA) within the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Energy, Science and Technology (MSDEST) is implementing an Early Warning System and Hydrological Monitoring for Water Management and Disaster Risk Reduction project, funded by the Australian Government.
There are three components to the project with one component specifically focused on enhancing meteorological and hydrological data collection, as well as establishing flood early warning systems in Castries, Anse la Raye and Canaries.
This component will utilize data captured by rain gauges and automatic weather stations. The data will be communicated via Very High Frequency (VHF) to a control station and will be monitored by staff of the Saint Lucia Meteorological Services (SLMS) and the WRMA.
When rainfall has reached a threshold to trigger warning for flood, the software from the control station will communicate to the siren via VHF to produce the audio alarm.
Two thresholds for flooding will be set: warning of possible flood; and flood evacuation. Over time, data from stream gauging stations will be analysed with rainfall data in order to improve the flooding threshold.
Community meetings with residents of Castries, Anse la Raye and Canaries are scheduled to take place between 24th August – 11th September to discuss the establishment of the Flood Early Warning and Siren Systems.
On Wednesday August 26, 2015 residents of Canaries are invited to join the discussion at the Canaries Community Centre from 6:30pm.
Consultations will be held with residents of Anse La Raye on September 3 & 24 at the Community Parish Hall from 6:30pm.
The Water Resource Management Agency within the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Energy, Science and Technology hopes to implement Flood Early Warning and Siren Systems in all flood valnurable communities around the island.
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