WILLEMSTAD – The Ministry of Social Development, Labor and Welfare (SOAW) is urging Curaçao residents to take greater responsibility for their own safety during emergencies, warning that families who fail to prepare could place additional pressure on emergency services when a disaster strikes.
The message was delivered during the fourth edition of the “Ami Ta Prepará Expo,” held on October 17 at Brionplein in Otrobanda. The event brought together government departments and emergency response organizations to educate the public about disaster preparedness, evacuation procedures, and emergency shelters.
SOAW representatives at the 'Ami Ta Prepará Expo'.
SOAW participated through Emergency Support Function 7 (ESF7), the government unit responsible for social shelter and social assistance during emergencies.
The ministry emphasized that individual preparedness is essential to ensuring that emergency personnel can concentrate their efforts on people who are unable to protect or assist themselves.
According to SOAW, families should prepare emergency supplies, organize important documents, and establish arrangements for temporary accommodation before a crisis occurs.
Aniceta, the ministry's Acting Secretary-General, emphasized that disaster preparedness begins with individual responsibility.
“Ami Ta Prepará means that each of us takes a step ourselves. The more families have their emergency supplies ready and their documents organized, the more capacity emergency services will have to assist people who cannot help themselves,” she said.
The ministry explained that Curaçao's Crisis and Disaster Management Organization (CRBO) consists of ten Emergency Support Functions, each responsible for a specific area of crisis management.
During a disaster, the relevant emergency support units coordinate their activities through CRBO to ensure an organized response.
SOAW is responsible for ESF7, which focuses on social assistance and the management of government emergency shelters when evacuations become necessary.
The ministry stressed that emergency shelters are intended primarily for residents who have no alternative accommodation during a disaster.
Families who can safely stay with relatives or acquaintances are encouraged to consider those options before seeking accommodation in a government shelter.
The October 17 expo, organized by the Directorate of Risk and Disaster Management (DRR) in cooperation with government services and CRBO partners, focused on the theme “I Am Prepared.”
The event took place from 4:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and provided visitors with practical information about preparing for emergencies.
With the Atlantic hurricane season continuing through November 30, SOAW is encouraging residents to take preventive measures now rather than waiting until a storm or other emergency threatens the island.
The ministry also urged the public to rely exclusively on official government communications during emergencies to avoid confusion and misinformation.