XN000022-1992-08-18 — Page 2

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 1992

RAINSTORM WARNING SYSTEM EXPLAINED

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THE GOVERNMENT TODAY (

(TUESDAY) ANNOUNCED THE DISTRIBUTION OF FURTHER PUBLICITY MATERIALS ON THE RAINSTORM WARNING SYSTEM AND EXPLAINED IN FURTHER DETAIL WHAT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SHOULD DO A RAINSTORM WARNING IS ISSUED.

WHEN

THE MOST SERIOUS WARNING SIGNAL UNDER THE RAINSTORM WARNING SYSTEM IS THE BLACK WARNING.

WHEN THE BLACK WARNING IS IN FORCE, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE SHELTER IN A SAFE PLACE AND LISTEN TO THE RADIO AND TELEVISION FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE SITUATION, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE BLACK WARNING IS ISSUED WHENEVER 100 MM OF RAIN OR MORE HAS BEEN RECORDED DURING THE IMMEDIATE PAST TWO-HOUR PERIOD OR LESS.

"IF THE BLACK WARNING IS ISSUED BEFORE WORKING HOURS, ALL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, EXCEPT THOSE WITH EMERGENCY DUTIES TO PERFORM, SHOULD STAY HOME UNTIL THE WARNING IS CANCELLED, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

T]

FOLLOWING THE CANCELLATION OF THE BLACK WARNING, PEOPLE CAN THEN GO TO WORK BUT THEY SHOULD EXERCISE DUE CARE AND CONTINUE TO LISTEN ΤΟ THE RADIO AND TELEVISION FOR THE LATEST UPDATES ON TRANSPORT SERVICES AND ROAD CONDITIONS.

EMPLOYERS SHOULD ADOPT A FLEXIBLE APPROACH

IN SUCH INSTANCES

AS SOME STAFF MEMBERS MAY HAVE GENUINE DIFFICULTIES IN GETTING ΤΟ WORK QUICKLY.

IF THE BLACK WARNING IS NOT CANCELLED UNTIL TOWARDS THE CLOSE OF THEIR BUSINESS DAY, EMPLOYERS MAY DECIDE THAT IT IS NOT NECESSARY FOR THEIR STAFF TO COME TO WORK.

IF THE BLACK WARNING IS ISSUED DURING WORKING HOURS, PEOPLE WORKING INDOORS SHOULD GENERALLY BE ENCOURAGED ΤΟ STAY INDOORS FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY UNTIL THE WARNING IS CANCELLED.

EMPLOYERS SHOULD EXERCISE DISCRETION IN DECIDING WHETHER INDIVIDUAL STAFF SHOULD BE RELEASED, HAVING REGARD TO THEIR PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES, TRAFFIC AND ROAD CONDITIONS, THE AVAILABILITY OF TRANSPORT AND SO ON.

PEOPLE WORKING OUTDOORS IN EXPOSED AREAS SHOULD STOP WORK AND TAKE SHELTER.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE SECOND MOST SERIOUS WARNING SIGNAL UNDER THE RAINSTORM WARNING SYSTEM WAS THE RED WARNING.

AS

WHEN THE RED WARNING IS IN FORCE, STAFF SHOULD GO ΤΟ WORK USUAL BUT EMPLOYERS SHOULD ADOPT A FLEXIBLE APPROACH IN CASES WHERE STAFF HAVE GENUINE DIFFICULTIES IN ARRIVING FOR WORK ON TIME.

/THE SPOKESMAN