NATIONAL OFFICE OF DISASTER SERVICES

The National Office of Disaster Services (NODS) has shipped a 20-foot container of supplies to St. Vincent to assist residents there who have been displaced by the recent volcanic eruption.

Among the items which left the island last evening (Mon.) via sea are water, water tanks, blankets, generators, mosquito nets, cots, towels, sheets, lanterns and flashlights.

Some of these items were contributed by local businesses and organizations while others were taken from the national warehouse.

According to information coming out of St. Vincent, the need now is for water, dry goods and toiletries. Requests are being made for bulk water instead of smaller bottles.

NODS is encouraging those wishing to donate towards the relief effort to contact the office. Donations received will be for general distribution and persons are asked not to send packages for families, relatives or friends.

Meanwhile, the local Met Office is reporting that volcanic emissions from the La Soufriere Volcano in St. Vincent could reach Antigua and Barbuda and the rest of the northeast Caribbean between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning.

It says this could be as a result of a shift of winds at the lower levels of the atmosphere.

According to the Met Office, the chance of emissions reaching the islands is low but there is a reasonable worst-case scenario of it happening. If it does happen, the impact would be minor, at most, but the threat of health problems would be elevated, for mainly unusually sensitive people, such as asthmatics, people with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children. These persons should therefore avoid unnecessary exposure to the ash.