ST.GEORGE’S, GRENADA, WEDNESDAY, 3rd JUNE, 2009_ Prime Minister Hon. Tillman Thomas has called on Grenadians to take preparation for disasters seriously. In a speech marking the official start of the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season, the Prime Minister warned against complacency, especially in light of the Atlantic basin seasonal hurricane forecast prediction of 12 named storms this year, with six storms expected to become hurricanes and two of the six becoming intense hurricanes. “Last year we did not experience any major hazard and we need to thank God for his mercies but we cannot become complacent.…..We need to prepare to mitigate the impact of any hazard we experience this season. We need to identify the hazards associated with the hurricanes and prepare for them,” the Prime Minister, who is also responsible for NaDMA, said in a nationwide address. The Prime Minister, who also heads the National Emergency Advisory Council (NEAC) which oversees NaDMA, announced that his government is considering a plan that will allow greater involvement of non governmental agencies in the distribution of relief supplies following a disaster. “Another source of concern is the distribution of emergency supplies. I am therefore considering giving the mandate for distribution to the Red Cross, Churches and NGOs. I believe that based on our experience with Hurricane Ivan, those agencies will facilitate a more efficient and effective distribution of emergency supplies,” The prime Minister said. He called on citizens to develop a plan for their families in the event of a disaster and urged full support for NaDMA, as the agency endeavors to revitalize a community approach to handling disasters mitigation and recovery. “Once there is a threat, NaDMA will provide all the relevant information through the media. In a time of disaster or crisis, you need information that is up to date, relevant and accurate. Remember to pay attention to information from NADMA, which is the official source for disaster related information during the hurricane season,” he said.