THE FOCUS for the 48 hours following the destruction caused by superstorm Sandy on the United States' East Coast will be "securing" Trinidad and Tobago nationals, Ambassador Dr Neil Parsan has said.

In light of this, Parsan is asking Trinidad and Tobago nationals who cannot get into contact with their "loved ones" to call or text him.

Parsan, this country's ambassador to the United States, made the statement yesterday in a telephone interview with the Express.

He yesterday gave his phone number (1-202-905-0555) and e-mail address (nparsan@gmail.com) as the means by which he can be contacted.

Parsan said according to reports, no nationals of Trinidad and Tobago were on Sandy's fatality list.

Nationals, however, were not spared from infrastructural damage caused by Sandy.

"The focus is really securing life and limb, we want to account for the safety of our citizens. A lot of us have no power, a lot of us have water damage including my own, a lot of us have suffered damage to cars but the idea is the focus of the next 48 hours is securing our people," Parsan said.

The Trinidad and Tobago embassy in Washington DC will be reopened today, Parsan said.

Parsan is expected to be in contact with Rudrawatee Nan Gosine-Ramgoolam, the Consul General of Trinidad and Tobago in New York, to determine when the consulate will be opened.

"We do not want to put any national in danger and we do not want to put any staff member in danger," Parsan said.

Parsan advised nationals residing in areas affected by Sandy to proceed with caution in the superstorm's aftermath and listen to instructions from officials.