The National Officer of Disaster Services (NODS) said it is prepared for the likely impact of tropical storm Ernesto. Director for NODS Sherrod James said the agency has already briefed a number of its partners who are all in a state of readiness.

“So for example the search and rescue teams, that is predominantly fire and police so they’ve already identified their personnel. They’ve already prepared and they have already prepositioned themselves for where there will be in case they need to be mobilized.”

The Barbados-based Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), has also been contacted.

The 17 hurricane shelters, one per district, will also be opened across Antigua and Barbuda.

Public Relations Officer Midcie Francis reminded the public on Monday that, “If you will be going to a shelter, the shelter is not equipped with the facilities that you have at home. So we’re asking persons to walk with your necessities. It would be food, the non-perishable food items.”

Residents are also being asked to adhere to the rules. Francis said law enforcement will be in place to ensure the rules are enforced.