Lessons for Barbados

EVEN THOUGH they were systems far away from Barbados, there were many lessons to be learnt from Tropical Storm Allison (last week) and Hurricane Keith (last year).

The biggest lesson was that it does not take hurricane-force winds to wreak havoc and destruction in Barbados. The focus in the Caribbean tend to be on the sustained winds in a cyclone but Allison and Keith proved that water also does significant damage. Last September Keith first parked itself off Belize before moving over land as a tropical depression and dumping 24.69 inches of rain on the Central American CARICOM state leaving US$225 in damage and 24 dead in four countries. Half the number of people drowned.

On Tuesday night, last week, a weak Tropical Storm Allison moved ashore in Texas and downgraded to a tropical depression but stay put for the next week dumping over 36 inches of rain between Louisiana and Texas. Eighteen people died and the damage bill is conservatively estimated at US$1 billion. Eight-lane interstate highways were turned into torrential rivers sweeping away vehicles and almost covering tractor trailers.

These developments mean that Barbados ought to rethink "hurricane preparedness" to not only mean winds but also flooding, something on which Coordinator of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Agency Jeremy Collymore recently focused.

"I don't think we are as prepared as we should be to deal with floods, both on the national and regional level. It must be said that while a flood is not at the level of a hurricane, they are accumulated losses that are very tangible over a period of time. We need to incorporate hazard preparedness as a way of life. We can't afford to be caught by surprise," he told a press briefing last week.

In a water scarce country like Barbados, which receives an average 45 inches of rain per year, it raises the question of what is the flooding threshold? How much rain would be needed to cause flooding?

Head of the Barbados Drainage Unit Charles Yearwood there's been no scientific studies to determine Barbados' flood threshold, however, the historical record showed that eight to 10 inches of rain in a 24 hour period would seal the island's fate. However, he's confident that with the significant drainage work undertaken in the last few years to install new drainage and maintain existing systems
certain hotspots, such as Holetown and Speighstown, will not have the same level of flooding as before. When the flood waters do come they will be drained faster. That's the theory, only, and as Yearwood points out: "We have the systems but they now have to be tested."

The programme operates in 54 countries providing money for small projects which aim to improve the environment and quality of life.
Money is provided for projects which aim at conserving biological diversity, mitigating the effects of climate change, protecting international waters preventing ozone depletion, combating deforestation and desertification, and now, countering the manufacture and use of persistent organic pollutants.

Eastmond said that the programme had been instrumental in funding many projects which may otherwise not have have been able to get off the ground.

"A close analysis of the state of the global environment indicates the overuse and exploitation of our natural resources. We realise that
individuals and organisations must be encouraged to be creative and to develop environmentally sound habits and practices that are not only sustainable, but may be replicated in other countries, and on a greater level, should the need arise," he said.

In a ceremony on World Environment Day, the minister provided certificates of appreciation to Barbadians who helped to develop the programme which came out of the 1992 Earth Summit.

AUSTRALIAN farmers are signing up their sheep and cattle in droves to take part in a vaccine programme aimed at reducing harmful methane gas emissions from their animals and help take the heat off global warming. Methane is a greenhouse gas more potent than carbon dioxide and farm animals produce a lot it. Australian scientists said on Thursday early results meant they expect to reduce methane emissions per animal by about 20 per cent a year, or the equivalent of 300 000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year if they can vaccinate three million animals. Australia's 114 million sheep and 27 million cattle are prolific producers of methane by flatulence and burping. They produce total methane emissions equivalent to 60 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, or 14 per cent of the country's greenhouse gas emissions every year.

Display on the island's gullies, desertification, and biodiversity
When: June 15
Time: 10 am to 2 pm
Where: NIS lobby

Tree planting for Father's Day and World Day to Combat Desertification
When: June 16
Who: Minister of Environment joins fathers in the community
Display on the ozone layer, atmosphere and climate change
When: June 28
Time: 10 am to 2 pm
Where: NIS lobby