As the Atlantic hurricane season gets underway, Saint Lucia’s environmental health authorities are urging residents to look beyond physical storm preparation and pay closer attention to the public health risks that often follow severe weather events, particularly water contamination and pest infestation.
Senior Environmental Health Officer Glenda Etienne-Cepal warned that the current El Niño conditions are expected to worsen both drought and storm-related risks, placing additional pressure on the island’s water systems.
“So with drier conditions, we are expecting more drought conditions and with drought conditions, the water system, the water infrastructure, the water network is supposed to be, we are expecting that there will be less water and more shutdowns because of the drier conditions,” she explained.
Etienne-Cepal said residents should prepare for possible interruptions in supply and take steps to ensure adequate household storage.
“So again, we’re asking people to be prepared during this El Niño season to ensure that they have an adequate supply of water,” she said.
At the same time, she cautioned that any storms that do impact the island could be more severe.
“Because we’re expecting that whatever storms that do impact us may be more intense, we expect strong winds,” she said. “We’re expecting people to secure their belongings so that we don’t have things flying around if a system does hit us.”
A major concern highlighted by the Environmental Health Division is the risk of contaminated water sources being mistaken for safe drinking water following storms or drought conditions.
“It is important that people understand that it is not any water source is considered to be safe unless it is approved,” Etienne-Cepal stressed. “Clean water does not equate safe water.”
She warned that visual clarity alone is not an indicator of safety and that natural sources can be misleading.
“In the past we know that people will see clear water coming out from the ground and assume that it is a spring, and that could just be contaminated water or effluent seeping because it has gone through the ground,” she said. “It has now come out clear, and people will now assume that it is a spring, as an example, consuming that can have adverse health reactions.”
The health official also cautioned that flooding during storms can drive rodents and insects into homes, increasing the risk of disease transmission.
“Rats and mice, their homes usually get flooded during the hurricane season or during any rain system. Their homes usually get flooded and they look to come into our homes to make themselves comfortable,” she said.
Residents are therefore being urged to take preventive measures to protect their homes.
“So we’re asking people to rat-proof their homes,” she said.
Mosquito control is also a key concern, with officials advising simple but effective household precautions.
“Also, when it comes to mosquitoes, you leave your window screens and you screen your doors to prevent mosquitoes from accessing your homes,” Etienne-Cepal added.
As the hurricane season progresses, health officials are continuing their public education campaign, emphasizing that preparedness must include not only physical safety but also vigilance over water quality and household hygiene to reduce post-storm health risks.