Public told to keep damaged items as proof

Operations and Relief Officer Captain (Ret’d) Neville Wint said these items, whether destroyed or damaged, would assist officers in assessing the kind of help the household needed.

“Those who have lost items, please do not discard these items. These items are critical for evidence of loss so that the ministries that are doing the relief, and giving of grants, can verify that you have suffered a loss.

Once it has been identified and confirmed, the necessary steps will be taken by the relevant agencies to assist those impacted...” Wint said during a news conference, yesterday, held by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM), at the National Security Ministry, Temple Court, Abercromby Street, Port-of- Spain.

And while the riverine alert has been lifted, the ODPM is still asking the persons living in these areas to be alert and monitor the level of the water. Wint said the regional corporations were leading the damage assessment and relief operations at this time led by Local Government and Social Development and Family Services.

He reported that utility services were mostly up and running with the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) having just two per cent of service still down, the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) was at five per cent and the TT Electricity Commission (TTEC) was at ten per cent.

He said corporations have been having problems with distribution due to the high water levels in some areas. As the water was now receding, it was now allowing the first responder agencies to reach persons who were marooned.

He said the TT Defence Force Battalion has been mobilised with Zodiac weather boats issued by the ODPM to take first responders where necessary and take relief items in areas affected. They have issued sandbags and tarpaulins to the municipal corporations to supplement their stocks and food cards have also been issued by Ministry of Social Development Captain Dave Williams, deputy chief executive officer of the ODPM, noted that TT was not under any threat of any tropical weather system. “There is a social media that is purporting that we are to be impacted by two tropical systems. At this point in time we are not under any tropical storm, watch or warning. The systems that are out there are typical to this time of the year