We must conserve water, TT

food, and cooking and basic hygiene practices. Of course, this will vary when we have hot days, windy days, humid days, and are caring for children, elderly, treating illnesses.

injuries, and in the cultivation of food and taking care of our pets and animals etc. The relevant authorities assure us that Trinidad and Tobago is fully capable of providing its basic water needs on a daily basis with dams such as Arena, Navet and Hollis in Trinidad and Hillsborough in Tobago. The Navet and Hollis Dams can potentially store over five billion gallons of water with an average production of about 27 million gallons a day (Retrieved from www. wasa.gov.tt, WRA, GOTT , 2017). This means that if 1.3 million people use 15 gallons a day (195 million gallons/day), just for basic needs on a non-emergency basis, and no other water is being produced or stored, we are short by about 168 million gallons daily. Desalination can produce over 75 million gallons a day for distribution. There is also the fact that our country depends heavily on the energy sector that uses large quantities of water and also in manufacturing industries.

agriculture and healthcare there will be a significant usage out of the total water produced/stored. Efficient, effective and efficacious integrated healthcare systems are extremely important in any country in the world. Health centres and hospitals use about five litres (1.3 gallons) for an outpatient and 50-60 litres for an inpatient a day (13-15 gallons) (WHO, WEDC, 2013). So if we have an average of 2,000 outpatients in all clinics and 650 inpatients in a typical general hospital in TT a day we would need 49,000 litres © 13,000 gallons/day). If we look at the fact that in operating theatres we also use up to 100 litres (26 gallons) a day/patient in emergencies as well and with toilets flushing about three-five litres/user/ day, we get a very good picture of our “water woes.” Schools need to have an average of three litres/day/student for drinking and hygiene and this does not include toilet flushes. Are we ready for a disaster in TT ? The Caribbean region is experiencing an overall period of drought and although we have heavy rainfall during the rainy season that sometimes leads to flash flooding there is still an overall shortage of water. I have not discussed other forms of water use, eg for washing vehicles.

watering lawns, filling swimming pools, watering plants and for pets, animals and gardening etc. In restaurants and the food and beverage industry, much water is used daily as well. When an earthquake strikes.

power and water are often disrupted almost instantaneously. Adequate water contingency plans are therefore needed at all levels. Man needs air, shelter, water.

food, and access to healthcare and security as soon as possible within 72 hours. It is therefore essential for healthcare systems, communities and schools to ensure that appropriate water is stored or easily available in the event of a complex emergency or catastrophic event. Truck-borne delivery of water and ice are two of the most important immediate basic needs of any population affected by a severe natural or man-made hazard. After the national power outage on March 29, 2013, an analysis of water requirements and usage at major hospitals revealed that if a significant power outage had occurred in excess of the period that it took for power to be restored in this case, limited capabilities existed at that time by RHAs to use pre-disaster MOUs and MOAs that would have ensured that local truck-borne water was provided for adequate hospital water supply in the event of shortage (GOTT , ODPM, 2013). If an earthquake occurs and the operational requirements of a large hospital are increased three-fold.

there will be a severe burden placed on the systems to cater for the increased demand for healthcare services (ASCE, Haiti, 2010). We are pleased that appropriate steps are being taken by the Government to ensure that disaster risk management practices are put in place. The North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA).

for example, has indicated to me recently, that it has “the necessary resources in terms of disaster risk management.” This is highly satisfactory as the NWRHA has the unique responsibility of providing appropriate healthcare services to our central business district and our capital’s urban centres for a population of density 3,090/sq km in Port-of-Spain.

817/sq km in Diego Martin and 658/sq km in San Juan/Laventille.

ie, over 312,000 people over a land area of 377 sq km, with about 96,000 households (GOTT /CSO, 2011). We applaud the NWRHA and all other government agencies and institutions.

authorities and divisions that have established DRM mechanisms and therefore have the necessary tested emergency operations and contingency plans, business continuity plans, crisis management plans and critical infrastructure protection systems, processes and procedures and the measures to monitor.

evaluate and report on their effectiveness and efficiency using appropriately benchmarked indicators to ensure that the continuity of government business in place after any complex emergency or catastrophic event. We must all “conserve water now.

please.”