104 Persons Evacuated from Old Harbour Bay

A total of 104 persons have been evacuated from flood-prone communities in Old Harbour Bay, St. Catherine, and are now safe in two shelters.

Parish Disaster Coordinator for St. Catherine, Yasheka Jathan-Thomas, told JIS News that the St. Catherine Parish Disaster Committee collaborated with the Jamaica Urban Transit Company Limited (JUTC) to move the residents to the shelters, pointing out that “we triggered the emergency evacuation siren.”

Old Harbour Bay, which is primarily a fishing community, has an early warning system which transmits messages issued by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) to residents and commuters in vulnerable areas.

Mrs. Jathan-Thomas said the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and St. Catherine Municipal Corporation have provided essential items for the shelters, including food.

Meanwhile, roadways in Riversdale and Glengoffe have been impacted by fallen trees and utility poles, while some communities in the northern section of the parish are without electricity.

Motorists are advised that the flood control gate at the Bog Walk Gorge is closed.

Mrs. Jathan-Thomas said all emergency agencies are at the emergency centre at the Municipal Corporation.

She urges residents to heed warnings as they are issued and seek assistance and get to more safer areas if they reside in vulnerable communities.