The ODPM officially launched the third phase of its Communities Organised and Ready for Emergencies (C.O.R.E) initiative on Sunday 9th June, 2013 in Diego Martin.

Communities Organised and Ready for Emergencies (C.O.R.E) has been an integral community outreach initiative through which important disaster risk reduction information can be disseminated to citizens. It also acts as a direct platform for residents to voice disaster management and preparedness concerns. With two (2) phases of the programme completed, which tackled the issues of flood mitigation and safer building with residents in high risk communities, this third phase, Emergency Planning in Communities (E.P.i.C) will be geared towards emergency planning on an individual level with particular emphasis being placed on preparedness for persons with special needs.

On Sunday, the ODPM, ODPM volunteers and the Disaster Management Unit of the Diego Martin Regional Corporation were accompanied by members of REACT, Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross, Lions Club, ADRA, Trinidad and Tobago Police, St. James Police Youth club, Ministry of Community Development and PVC Council, to distribute first aid kits, sandbags and family emergency planning templates to the residents of Petit Valley.