Mitigating Effect Of Windstorm: President Discloses Gov’t Activated ‘Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan’

By Buba Gagigo

Adama Barrow disclosed that his government activated the country’s ‘Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan’ to redress the damage caused by the windstorm.

“I wish to inform all citizens and residents of the country that my Government is fully aware of the scale of the damage caused by this natural tragedy. We have since taken immediate steps to redress the situation.

“Working with the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) and the relevant line institutions, the Government has activated the country’s ‘Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan,” the president said.

He added that the National Disaster Management Agency staff are working tirelessly to assess the full extent of the damage, and are instituting measures to mitigate the effects of this natural disaster.

The President has urged the Department of Physical Planning to learn lessons from poor planning of old settlements and plan better new settlements in future.

“My Government will urge the Department of Physical planning to learn lessons from the poor planning of old settlements and, in the future, plan new communities better, taking account of waterways and proper drainage systems,” Barrow said.

The head of state reiterated his appeal to all citizens, residents, corporate bodies, and the country’s development partners to work with the NDMA on disaster risk reduction mechanisms to support the victims.

The president made the remarks during his address to the nation on Friday night amid the windstorm that hit several parts of the country on Wednesday night. The storm killed 10, displaced 1, 531 and affected more than 3 thousand individuals, mainly in the North Bank Region, according to the National Disaster Management Agency preliminary assessment on Thursday.