Persons in Low-Lying and Flood-Prone Areas Urged to Relocate Now
By: , October 26, 2025
Photo: Yhomo Hutchinson
Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (left), is in discussion with Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, during a press briefing at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) in Kingston on Sunday (Oct. 26).The Full Story
Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, is appealing to Jamaicans residing in low-lying and flood-prone areas to heed the evacuation warnings.
Some of these areas are Port Royal, Kingston; Rocky Point and Portland Cottage in Clarendon; Bamboo River, St. Thomas; and New Haven, Riverton City and Taylor Land in St. Andrew.
Minister McKenzie noted that transportation is being provided to facilitate the relocation of individuals.
“I am urging persons living in low-lying areas that are vulnerable to flooding, it is not too late if you’re having problems to move. Call the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM); we will assist you,” he said.
“When this event comes, it is going to be difficult for us to say to our first responders ‘go out and risk your life now for someone who refused when it was conducive for them to leave’,” he pointed out.
The Minister was addressing a press briefing at the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management in Kingston on Sunday (Oct. 26).
He informed that all of the island’s 881 shelters are now open and provisions have been made to move homeless people to safe facilities.
“We have provided public transportation to take them to the various facilities… and we will continue to do so as long as conditions allow,” he assured.
He informed that homeless shelters are situated in parish capitals and some of the unhoused will be accommodated in sections of the regular shelters.
Meanwhile, the Minister again appealed to developers across the island to remove building materials from roadways as well as cranes and other equipment from construction sites.
“They (developers) will be held responsible for any damage, loss of lives that those cranes and construction material might contribute to. It is not too late to take them down,” he said.
Jamaica is under a hurricane warning as Hurricane Melissa inches closer to the island. The category four system is expected to make landfall on Monday into Tuesday, bringing strong winds, heavy rains and flooding.