NODS Director pleased with stakeholders efforts during Ernesto threat

The National Office of Disaster Services (NODS) announced that it is pleased with the response of various agencies during the passage of the storm.

Antigua and Barbuda sustained minimal damage on Tuesday, with only two people occupying the main shelter opened in the St. Paul’s constituency.

NODS Director Sherrod James spoke to state media following the aftermath of the storm, noting that it served as a test of the agencies’ readiness to respond effectively.

“I think this gave us a very good test run to see where some agencies are in terms of their plan development because it provided a real-life experience for them to test their plans and identify areas with shortcomings,” James said.

He emphasized the need for agencies to review and refine their plans, stating, “It’s now time for the agencies to go back, and we will work with them at the drawing board to tweak some of the areas and address the hiccups they experienced in terms of the efficiency and effectiveness of their plans.”

James also mentioned the effectiveness of the CAP App but acknowledged there is always room for improvement.

“In terms of preparation with the CAP system, it did work well. However, as disaster managers, we are never fully satisfied because nothing is ever 100 percent, and there’s always room for improvement,” he said.

He added that they are receiving feedback and will be making necessary modifications.