Those who took a drive around New Providence Thursday afternoon after the heavy wind and rain from Hurricane Irene died down, may have encountered clearer streets than expected.
That’s because the Department of Environmental Health Services had already begun clean-up efforts on that day as early as 2 p.m., while relentless wind and rain still lashed the capital.
After surveying the streets to determine where clean-up was necessary, they began to make priority lists to start clearing major roads, according to Melanie McKenzie, Director of the Department of Environmental Heath Services.
Though on New Providence there was little flooding and standing water remaining, McKenzie assures the public that the department will continue with its rigorous efforts to get ahead of the mosquito population and slow the spread of dengue fever.
For now the major concern with the Family Islands is flooding. The department plans to focus its efforts on larviciding standing water and disposing of water-damaged materials properly to avoid the spread of disease on the Family Islands.
So far, though, few reports from the department’s branches on other islands have reached them—yet McKenzie remains positive that even in the most damaged areas, residents will work together and with the department to overcome any destruction by the major hurricane.
