Prime Minister Hon. Tillman Thomas has placed preparations for 2012 hurricane season at the top of his agenda for the next six months. The Prime Minister has called on Grenadians to take the necessary measures to protect their homes and family in the event of a natural disaster. These measures include updating insurance policies, developing a disaster plan to guide family decisions making in a disaster and protecting medicine and valuables. “Our experience should guide our planning and preparation. We must work together to address weak areas in our communities, especially the way we cater for members of the disabled community,” the Prime Minister said. In keeping with his decision, the Prime Minister and his Cabinet recently empowered the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) to sign Memoranda of Understanding with various service providers for emergency supplies and services, in response to a national disaster. NADMA, in keeping with its mandate and mission will collaborate with local, regional and international agencies to provide the highest standard of assistance in the event of a hazard or natural disaster. “We have authorized NADMA to take all the necessary measures to support a timely and effective response in the event that our country is affected by a disaster,” Prime Minister Thomas, who is also Minister for National Security, Disaster Management and Home Affairs, said. The MOU requires, that while service providers are allowed to turn over their stock in the normal course of business, a minimum level will be kept “at all times” to adequately meet the demand that comes with recovery from a disaster. The Prime Minister noted that NADMA continues to lead the effort to ensure that adequate preparedness; mitigation response and recovery mechanisms are established, to counteract the impact of natural and man-made disasters. In a recent address marking the start of the 2012 hurricane season, the Prime Minister appealed to all Grenadians to get involved in the disaster management and risk reduction process to reduce damage and loss caused by the impact of a hurricane or any of its hazards “to ourselves, our community and by extension to our country.”