(Trinidad Express) The head of the Meteorological Services in the French island of Martinique, John-Noel Degras, has denied reports in St Lucia that the collapse of a radar system had made it difficult for local authorities to determine the intensity of a weather system which ravaged the island on Christmas Eve, killing at least six people.
Spokesman for the National Emergency Management Organisation (Nemo) Kirby Allain, reacting to widespread criticism the public was inadequately informed of the impending danger posed by the trough, said in a statement the radar equipment in Martinique broke down, impairing the country’s ability to analyse and predict this week’s devastating weather.
A statement issued by Nemo indicated “forecasters could not predict this weather event as the Met Services equipment has been compromised.
“Additionally, radar equipment located in Martinique, on which Saint Lucia’s Met Services depends for weather forecasting, was down, resulting in severely hampered ability to analyse and predict this weather event,” the statement added.
However, Degras, speaking from Martinique, said the radar was functioning perfectly and is totally accessible.
Explaining what may have occurred, the French weather official said local decision-makers have made it a habit of using the public website, the Guadeloupe-based Metayo France in the Antilles, as the only source of information.
However, he said on Christmas Day, there were heavy storms in Guadeloupe, which disrupted the Internet provider so the public website did not get the satellite image feed.
“The misunderstanding highlights the need for a more regional and global co-ordination among countries, not only during hurricanes but also during times of severe weather,” Degras said.
Scores of St Lucians have been taking met officials here and Nemo to task for what they said was their failure to warn the nation of the approach of a potentially threatening weather system.
Thousands braved the rains which were already falling 24 hours earlier to do their last-minute shopping, ahead of the Christmas and Boxing Day holidays.
But as darkness descended on Tuesday, the rains became heavier, the winds picked up and rivers across the island started overflowing their banks, leaving the unsuspecting shoppers scurrying for higher ground.
Among the six people who lost their lives, four are believed to have been swept away by swollen rivers as they attempted to make their way home.
The Met services and Nemo have been accused of failing to sound a clear warning that the island would face some severe weather on the eve of Christmas.
