lack of concern in Trinidad for EARL

[tropicana]

Even though Trinidad is under a TROPICAL STORM WARNING, reports out of that island state that most people aren't in the least bit concerned.
The local radio stations aren't giving residents any advice in the things to do during a TS WARNING, and life is going on like normal.

It is astonishing really. There is the local belief in Trinidad that the island is immune to tropical storms, even though history says otherwise. Though rare, it does happen. There is a local saying on the island... *GOD IS A TRINIDADIAN*

But Trinidad, out of all the islands in the Caribbean, despite its grand infrasturcture and one of the richest islands in the Eastern Caribbean, is the one island that is the most ill-prepared for any kind of storm. And if EARL knocks hard later today, then we can only hope for the best.

It speaks volumes about the local Emergency personnel on the island.
-justin-

[Brent]

They are on the south side of the circulation. It's passing north as it flies westward right now.

[KBBOCA]

Just a few days ago when I was watching Charley, while it was still in the Carrib. I had dinner with friends, one of whom is from Trinidad. I asked her if she was tracking the storms (her family is still in Trinidad). She said "Oh, not really. We never get serious storms in Trinidad."

[Opal storm]

Well,why do they need to watch it?They are immune to tropical storms.

[HURAKAN]

New York though they were inmune to Terrorist Attack and you see what happened. For Trinidad, it just takes a big cane to chance that belief. As always, something big and terrible has to happen to change people's mind, like what happened with Andrew.

[Guest]

think about this one,,,, WHERE IS EVERYONE GOING TO GO???

[wxman57]

Earl is passing safely north of Trinidad, as was forecast. All they'll see is the cirrus blow-off from squalls well to the north. Winds probably lighter than normal there today as Earl has disrupted the steady easterly trades. This is because Earl is racing westward and the stronger winds are not located south of the center.

It is true that it's exceedingly rare for a strong tropical storm/hurricane to directly impact Trinidad. It's happened only a few times in the last 150 years. But I'd still keep one eye to the east this time of year if I lived there.

[msbee]

as usual, people who have not had to deal with a major storm in their lifetime are complacent, until it happens!
As we have seen in other places, that is a dangerous trend of thought.
Trinis should be more alert.
On the other hand, a tropical storm is usually not much of a problem. The islands can usually weather a tropical storm fairly easy.