Minister of State for Disaster Response Rawdon Turner has praised the National Office of Disaster Services (NODS) for its quick, coordinated action before, during and after Tropical Storm Jerry last week.
Turner said disaster teams were “ready for any eventuality,” noting that shelters opened across all districts and inter-agency communication remained strong. He expressed relief that no deaths or serious injuries were reported.
Deputy NODS Coordinator Craig Cole said the response was “effective and timely.” He reported two rescues on Airport Road, where floodwaters trapped a bus and another vehicle, and said the Pigotts main road was closed due to dangerous flooding caused by runoff from nearby backfilled ponds.
Ahead of the storm, NODS teams cleared waterways and trimmed trees to limit flooding. Some areas, including Hodges Bay, still flooded after a plastic barrel blocked the main drain.
Six assessment teams were deployed the next day to check conditions and support the quick resumption of economic activity.
The National Emergency Operations Centre was activated Thursday evening following consultation with Prime Minister Gaston Browne.
Tropical Storm Jerry brought more than nine inches of rain to northern Antigua and over four inches elsewhere. Rainfall data for Barbuda were not immediately available.
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