THE National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO), is refurbishing emergency shelters islandwide.
The refurbishments will provide more convenient access to the shelters for the differently abled, and will make the shelters more environmentally friendly.
NEMO Director, Velda Joseph, said a plan that will facilitate the installation of rain water harvesting systems for the emergency shelters is already in place. The Ministry of Sustainable Development, Energy, Science and Technology provided assistance for the initiative.
In addition, photovoltaic lighting systems, will boost the shelters’ capacities.
“We are moving to having photovoltaic systems at our shelters,” she said. “I’m sure you may be aware that the Marchand shelter has both of these elements included.”
At the 2013 opening of the Marchand community centre, renovated under the Special Programme on Adaptation to Climate Change (SPACC), Dr. Kenrick Leslie of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (5Cs) said that the facility incorporates new wind speed engineering design, and features a photovoltaic (PV) component that will ensure the provision of power during outages.
Soufriere is the next community on the list for renovations.
Joseph also revealed that NEMO is working with the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities, in order to improve access to the shelters for the elderly and persons with disabilities. (GIS)