Funding concerns for disaster management – NEMO Director
St Vincent and the Grenadines’ disaster management systems have come under heavy pressure in recent years, according to Director of the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO), Michelle Forbes, who has expressed concerns about a possible funding source being cut off following the election of President Donald Trump.
NEMO, along with National Security officials and regional disaster management convened a four day National After Action Review (AAR) meeting with the aim of developing recommendations coming out of Hurricane Beryl which hit St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) on July 1, 2024.
The purpose of the After Action Review is to assess the overall response to Hurricane Beryl, identify areas for improvement, and strengthen the St. Vincent and the Grenadines disaster management system for future events.
Forbes said she believes that the early warning coordination for the country before Beryl hit was “well-executed”. She credited this to an investment in human resources and monitoring equipment.