Ronald Jackson (left), acting director general at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), updates the media at a press conference on Jamaica's state of preparedness for the 2007 hurricane season at ODPEM's Camp Road office in Kingston, yesterday. Looking on are Sylvia McGill (second left), director, National Meteorological Service; Krechet Douglas-Greaves (second right), director, information and training, ODPEM; and, Jim Pitchford, chief operations officer, Cable and Wireless Jamaica. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief PhotographerRoss Sheil, Staff Reporter
Despite a quiet 2006 hurricane season, which defied forecasts, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is warning Jamaicans against dismissing what is expected to be an active six months ahead.
Only Hurricane Ernesto, in August, came close to Jamaica last year, but this season, 13 to 17 tropical storms are expected to form in the Atlantic with seven to 10 becoming hurricanes. Of these, three to five will be severe. Meanwhile, the Meteorological Service is forecasting rains to continue overnight.
Devastating consequences
Officials stressed yesterday, during a press conference held at ODPEM's headquarters on Camp Road, Kingston, that just one hurricane can have devastating consequences for the country.
ODPEM Director General Ronald Jackson urged members of the public to both prepare for a potential hurricane and to take steps to reduce the risk of flooding by cleaning drains and not dumping rubbish in them.
Mr. Jackson called for members of the public to assist emergency workers during the season as well as consider becoming ODPEM volunteers.
"We continue to urge for action on the part of the public to be supportive of the work of state agencies," he said. We ask that you seek to continue to do the things necessary to reduce your vulnerability such as refraining from dumping in the waterways and drains, and to heed the advice of the ODPEM when given."
Hurricanes Dennis and Emily cost Jamaica an estimated $5.98 billion in 2005, and the category four Ivan in 2004 cost $36.9 billion.
Planned text service
Mr. Jackson said the planned text service to provide emergency information, to be provided by Cable & Wireless, should be made available before the peak of the season in September. However, added Cable & Wireless's Chief Operations Officer Jim Pitchford, arrangements still have to be made with other cellular service providers.
Although it has yet to be decided whether the service will be free, Mr. Pitchford said that, given that it will be an emergency service, he felt it should be.
Using the service, customers will be able to text key words such as 'Portland' and 'Shelter', and receive information from ODPEM to direct themselves or others to safety.
ross.sheil@gleanerjm.com
Everything is in place - PeartMinister of Local Government and Environment Dean Peart has scoffed at the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) concerns that the National Disaster Committee, headed by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, has not yet met the hurricane season began yesterday.
"Whether or not we meet is not important because everything is in place," Mr. Peart told The Gleaner yesterday.
The JLP yesterday expressed dissatisfaction at what it says was the lack of preparedness of the Government for the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season.
Basic infrastructure not ready
"Our drains are not clean, our gullies are in need of cleaning, the basic infrastructure is not ready," Bobby Montaque, mayor of Port Maria, told reporters while addressing a press conference held at the JLP's Belmont Road headquarters. "A lot of our shelters are in a bad state. The emergency supplies are in a bad state."
He said the parish councils have not received money from the Government for drain cleaning, adding that the councils were told to use allocations for May and June for drain cleaning.
Mayor Montaque said this was unacceptable as it meant other areas, such as road maintenance would be neglected.
June is 'Disaster Preparedness Month' and ODPEM will be holding events islandwide. For more information contact ODPEM: 928-5111-4
