The Tribune

THE DEMOCRATIC National Alliance is urging Bahamians not to take the looming Hurricance Matthew lightly and to prepare for the impact of the powerful storm this week.

The party’s leader, Branville McCartney, appealed to the government for “specific intervention” to help Bahamians get ready for the category 4 hurricane, which is threatening the southern islands from later today.

While Mr McCartney said he was pleased to see the government bring Bahamian students from the University of the West Indies back from Jamaica at the weekend to avoid the storm, he said more action and specific government intervention will be needed to help Bahamians prepare for the impending system, “particularly those who are still recovering from the damage left behind by Joaquin. What, if any, additional support is being provided to those residents? And what steps have been taken thus far to ensure that the even minimal recovery efforts started after Joaquin will not be totally undone by the passage of Matthew?”

Mr McCartney said the DNA encourages all Bahamians to prepare for the impact of this impending storm. “This storm is not to be taken lightly,” he said, urging people on the Family Islands under a hurricance warning to find the shelters nearest to their homes. “Develop an evacuation plan with your families in the event that you may need to avail yourselves of such accommodations,” he said.

“Do not wait until it is too late to evacuate your residence. By now, we hope that residents have already secured the necessary non-perishable items which may be needed to ride out the effects of the storm over the next several days.”

He offered advice on the necessary precautions, including removing debris or other items which could become airborne projectiles in high winds, from their properties.

“Matthew is expected to bring with it strong winds and heavy rains, which will likely result in severe flooding; therefore we encourage you to properly secure valuable items high up so as to avoid the impact of possible storm surges,” he added.