The National Office of Disaster Services (NODS) has announced the designation of 49 buildings across the nation as emergency shelters for the upcoming hurricane season, which officially begins on June 1st.
These shelters which include schools, churches and community centers have undergone thorough inspections by the Ministry of Works and local disaster coordinators to ensure they meet the necessary safety standards for housing residents during storm events, NODS said.
While each disaster district will have at least one designated shelter, it’s important to note that not every community will have its own facility, the local disaster agency stated.
NODS is emphasizing that these public shelters should be considered as last resorts.
Residents are strongly encouraged to prioritize securing their homes and properties in preparation for potential hurricane impacts during the season which runs until November.
Those who must seek refuge in public shelters are required to provide their own essential supplies. These include items such as canned food, water, clothing, personal hygiene products, blankets, and sleeping gear, as these provisions will not be available at the shelters, NODS said.
During emergencies, trained volunteers will be on-site to manage the operations of these facilities, according to officials.
The complete list of designated emergency shelter locations is available on the NODS Facebook page.
