Eleven shelters have opened in Westmoreland and are occupied, says Mayor of Savanna-la-Mar, Councillor Danree Delancy. He told JIS News in an interview that the parish continues preparedness and mitigation activities in response to the impending Hurricane Melissa. “Persons have begun taking refuge in designated facilities across the parish, including areas in eastern Westmoreland, such as Petersville,” the Mayor noted....

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, is urging residents in flood-prone and high-risk communities to utilise the island’s emergency shelters as Hurricane Melissa continues to affect Jamaica. He made the appeal while providing an update from the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) during a media briefing at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM)...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development Hon. Desmond McKenzie is reiterating that Shelters across the island are safe spaces for people who live in communities vulnerable to severe weather events such as Hurricane Melissa, and is urging them to go to the network of Shelters to see out the impending Hurricane. “I am aware of reports in the media...

Members of the public are being advised to avoid the Amity Hall and Hordley Crossing areas in St. Thomas in the event of heavy rainfall associated with the slow approach of Tropical Storm Melissa. Parish Disaster Coordinator, Martina Medley-Goode, told JIS News that the areas are highly susceptible to flooding. “Persons oftentimes get trapped and we have to be coordinating...

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has launched a mobile application to strengthen assessment and response efforts for individuals impacted by severe weather events, ahead of Tropical Storm Melissa’s projected impact. The software, ‘KoboCollect’, includes geo-mapping capabilities, allowing responders to log the precise location of a victim’s residence, and does not require an active internet connection to function while...

Authorities in St. James have initiated the evacuation of approximately 200 homeless individuals from Montego Bay and surrounding communities to emergency shelters, in anticipation of Tropical Storm Melissa’s projected impact on Jamaica this weekend. The evacuation plans were finalised following an Emergency Operations Centre meeting, held at the St. James Municipal Corporation on Thursday (October 23). Inspector of Poor for...

The approximately 76 shelters in the parish of Portland are in a state of readiness as the parish braces for Tropical Storm Melissa, which is slowly approaching the island. “We have prepositioned bedding and other items in communities. We have items in store, and we know that we will continue to be supported by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and...