Yellow Hill – Friday, 16 June 2023 – Tropical Disturbance 1 poses no threat to Montserrat at this time, and no watches or warnings have been issued for the island. The Disaster Management Coordination Agency (DMCA) will continue to monitor the system and provide regular updates as deemed necessary.

As of Friday afternoon, the National Hurricane Center says Tropical Disturbance 1 located between the west coast of Africa and the Cabo Verde Islands is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Environmental conditions appear to be conducive for gradual development, and a tropical depression could form during the early to middle portions of next week while the system moves westward at 15 to 20 mph across the eastern and central tropical Atlantic.

Disturbance 1 has a 20% chance of formation in the next two days and, a 60% chance of development in the next seven days.

The Disaster Management Coordination Agency, DMCA is encouraging residents and visitors to continue to monitor the DMCA, review their hurricane plans, complete their hurricane preparations, and be prepared.

Be Prepared, Stay Prepared, It Only Takes One!

Yellow Hill – Friday, 16 June 2023 – Tropical Disturbance 1 poses no threat to Montserrat at this time, and no watches or warnings have been issued for the island. The Disaster Management Coordination Agency (DMCA) will continue to monitor the system and provide regular updates as deemed necessary.

As of Friday morning, the National Hurricane Center says a Disturbance 1 located between the west coast of Africa and the Cabo Verde Islands is producing disorganized showers and
thunderstorms. Environmental conditions appear to be conducive for gradual development, and a tropical depression could form during the early to middle portions of next week while the system moves westward at 15 to 20 mph across the eastern and central tropical Atlantic.

Disturbance 1 has a 10% chance of formation in the next two days and, a 50% chance of development in the next seven days.

The Disaster Management Coordination Agency, DMCA is encouraging residents and visitors to continue to monitor the DMCA, review their hurricane plans, complete their hurricane preparations, and be prepared.

Yellow Hill – Thursday, 15 June 2022 – Tropical Disturbance 1 poses no threat to Montserrat at this time, and no watches or warnings have been issued for the island. The Disaster Management Coordination Agency (DMCA) will continue to monitor the system and provide regular updates as deemed necessary.

As of Thursday morning, the National Hurricane Center says a tropical wave is forecast to move off the west coast of Africa later today and early Friday. Environmental conditions are expected to be conducive for gradual development while it moves generally westward to west-northwestward at 15 to 20 mph across the eastern tropical Atlantic during the early to the middle part of next week

Disturbance 1 has a 0% chance of formation in the next two days and, a 20% chance of development in the next seven days.

The Disaster Management Coordination Agency, DMCA is encouraging residents and visitors to continue to monitor the DMCA, review their hurricane plans, complete their hurricane preparations, and be prepared.

World Blood Donor Day is celebrated on June 14th annually, and the theme for this year is “Give blood, give plasma, share life, share often.”

Lieutenant Colonel Alvin Ryan, Director of the Disaster Management Coordination Agency (DMCA) is a regular blood donor for the Glendon Hospital on Montserrat for many years.

Lieutenant Colonel Ryan says giving blood saves lives. The blood you give is a lifeline in an emergency and for people who need long-term treatments.

He adds whether an individual blood type is rare, common or somewhere in between, blood donations can help patients, especially those in need of surgery to save their lives.

World Blood Donor Day focuses on patients requiring life-long transfusion support and underlines the role every single person can play, by giving the valuable gift of blood or plasma. It also highlights the importance of giving blood or plasma regularly to create a safe and sustainable supply of blood and blood products that can be always available, all over the world, so that all patients in need can receive timely treatment.

According to an Air Quality Alert issued by the Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services, the air quality is down to moderate levels as a result of particulate matters 2.5 and 10,
associated with a fresh surge in the Saharan Dust. The threat of health problems is elevated, for mainly unusually sensitive people, such as asthmatics, and could potentially cause them limited health impacts.

Therefore, active children and adults, and, people with respiratory diseases such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.

Air quality index: 51 to 70

Alert Level: II

Sensitive groups: People with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children are the groups most at risk.

Health implications: Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants, there may be moderate health concerns for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.

The Disaster Management Coordination Agency (DMCA) is advising residents who are unusually sensitive to dust particles to be vigilant, due to moderate concentrations of Saharan dust in the atmosphere! Residents with respiratory issues such as asthma should keep windows and doors closed as much as possible.

The DMCA is further advising residents to limit dust entering their system as best as possible by using masks and protective eyewear. Any masks that filter small particles should be worn such as a surgical mask, N95 and KN95 when going outside.

Continue to monitor DMCA Facebook, Instagram and Twitter social media sites and our website http://dmca.gov.ms for daily weather updates, public advisories and warnings and information on the wide range of natural and man-made hazards that have the potential to impact Montserrat.

Photos Courtesy: myFoxhurricane & Dale Destin – 268Weather.

According to an Air Quality Alert issued by the Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services, the air quality is down to moderate levels as a result of particulate matters 2.5 and 10,
associated with a fresh surge in the Saharan Dust. The threat of health problems is elevated, for mainly unusually sensitive people, such as asthmatics, and could potentially cause them limited health impacts.

Therefore, active children and adults, and, people with respiratory diseases such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.

Air quality index: 51 to 70

Alert Level: II

Sensitive groups: People with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children are the groups most at risk.

Health implications: Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants, there may be moderate health concerns for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.

The Disaster Management Coordination Agency (DMCA) is advising residents who are unusually sensitive to dust particles to be vigilant, due to moderate concentrations of Saharan dust in the atmosphere! Residents with respiratory issues such as asthma should keep windows and doors closed as much as possible.

The DMCA is further advising residents to limit dust entering their system as best as possible by using masks and protective eyewear. Any masks that filter small particles should be worn such as a surgical mask, N95 and KN95 when going outside.

Continue to monitor DMCA Facebook, Instagram and Twitter social media sites and our website http://dmca.gov.ms for daily weather updates, public advisories and warnings and information on the wide range of natural and man-made hazards that have the potential to impact Montserrat.

Photos Courtesy: myFoxhurricane & Dale Destin – 268Weather.

According to an Air Quality Alert issued by the Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services, the air quality is down to moderate levels as a result of particulate matters 2.5 and 10,
associated with a fresh surge in the Saharan Dust. The threat of health problems is elevated, for mainly unusually sensitive people, such as asthmatics, and could potentially cause them limited health impacts.

Therefore, active children and adults, and, people with respiratory diseases such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.

Air quality index: 51 to 70

Alert Level: II

Sensitive groups: People with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children are the groups most at risk.

Health implications: Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants, there may be moderate health concerns for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.

The Disaster Management Coordination Agency (DMCA) is advising residents who are unusually sensitive to dust particles to be vigilant, due to moderate concentrations of Saharan dust in the atmosphere! Residents with respiratory issues such as asthma should keep windows and doors closed as much as possible.

The DMCA is further advising residents to limit dust entering their system as best as possible by using masks and protective eyewear. Any masks that filter small particles should be worn such as a surgical mask, N95 and KN95 when going outside.

Continue to monitor DMCA Facebook, Instagram and Twitter social media sites and our website http://dmca.gov.ms for daily weather updates, public advisories and warnings and information on the wide range of natural and man-made hazards that have the potential to impact Montserrat.

The new procedure to ensure a clear and transparent process for access to Zone V for tourism purposes will come into full effect Monday, 14 June 2023.

The June 1st start date was pushed back to ensure a smooth and successful transition process which includes the employment of access wardens, a standardized tour fee, an online tour request form for all excursions to Zone V (Plymouth) and a shift system for tours.

Five Access Wardens have been selected through the Government of Montserrat Insync HR Candidate Shortlisting process that best meets the requirements and criteria for the job. A total of eight individuals submitted applications.

A one-week training will be held with the selected individuals starting Monday, 5 June 2023, before taking up their duties.

The Tour Request Form for access to Zone V is now available on the DMCA website: http://dmca.gov.ms/. The form is at the top of the webpage on the right-hand side so it’s visible immediately.

A fee of $160 dollars will be charged for each tour to Plymouth and paid at the DMCA office on Yellow Hill Road.
Certified Tour Operators are required to complete a Tour Application Request Form twenty-four hours before their scheduled trip to Plymouth.

The DMCA will only process applications submitted by trained and certified Tour and Taxi operators on Montserrat for tours to Zone V.

Ends…

The Government of Montserrat has approved the Hurricane Risk Reduction & Resilience Drive in preparation for the 2023 hurricane season. Through exemption from customs duty and importation tax on the importation of critical hurricane preparedness items, local businesses and homes can strengthen their infrastructural resilience against the effects of hurricanes and other natural disasters.

Until the expiration of the programme on September 30, 2023 businesses and homes can import, duty free – generators, change over switches, purpose-built or readymade storm shutters, chainsaws and saw blades for metal or wood, wood mulchers / wood chippers, portable or mounted flood lights and solar lights, first aid and or trauma kits, screwdrivers, hammers, spanner, sockets, measuring tapes, pliers, utility knives, spirit levels, torch lights, clamps, gloves and protective eyewear.

Persons seeking to import items under the exemption programme should refer to SRO 13 of 2023 via www.gov.ms for complete details of all instructions and conditions applying to the exemptions.

Cabinet has approved a proposal to improve access to Zone V (Plymouth) for tourism starting Friday, 1 June 2023.

The Montserrat Cabinet gave its nod on April 27th, 2023, to ensure a clear and transparent process for access to the exclusion zone for tourism purposes.

The new proposal involves the establishment of Access Wardens to provide controlled entry for all tour operators entering Plymouth under the direct supervision of the Disaster Management Coordination Agency (DMCA). The DMCA is the government entity designated by the Governor and the National Disaster Preparedness Response Advisory Committee (NDPRAC) to manage and coordinate all Access to Zone V as the Soufriere Hills Volcano remains active.

The DMCA is recruiting five (5) Access Wardens to work in the Exclusion Zone on a shift basis from Monday to Sunday and also on holidays.

Residents interested in being Access Wardens can submit their application to the Human Resources Management Unit (HRMU) by Friday, 26 May 2023.

A fee of $160 dollars will be charged for each tour to Plymouth and must be paid at the DMCA office on Yellow Hill Road.

Certified Tour Operators are required to complete a Tour Application Request Form twenty-four hours prior to their scheduled trip to Plymouth.

The form is free of charge and will be available on the DMCA and GOM websites and at the DMCA office.

The DMCA will only process applications submitted by trained and certified Tour and Taxi operators on Montserrat.