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General Manager of the Banana Board, Janet Conie, is imploring banana farmers to contribute to the Catastrophe Fund, which will provide them with some level of insurance in the event of a natural disaster. Speaking to JIS News following a tour of a number of banana farms in St. Mary on October 26, Mrs. Conie pointed out that following the...

Preliminary estimates put the damage to the country from the passage of Hurricane Sandy at over $5 billion, with agriculture being the worst affected sector. Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, in a statement in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (Oct. 30), informed that damage to agriculture is estimated at $1.5 billion. There were significant losses to...

The National Water Commission (NWC) is assuring customers currently without water, that efforts are being made to have all systems up and running within the next two days. This, however, is contingent on the full restoration of electricity by the Jamaica Public Service (JPS), said NWC Senior Public Relations Officer, Karen Williams. RELATED: [Jamaicans Urged to Use Safe Water] She...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is mobilising supplies for distribution to citizens in eastern parishes, which were hardest hit by Hurricane Sandy. Director General of ODPEM, Ronald Jackson, said that the agency is distributing food supplies and other resources to persons in Portland, St. Thomas and St. Mary. “A team is in the air doing …reconnaissance...

The National Works Agency (NWA) is reporting that over 95% of the 176 roadways across the island made impassable during the passage of Tropical Storm Sandy have been reopened to at least single lane traffic. The remaining 5% or nine (9) roadways are still impassable. Of this number six (6) are located in St. Thomas. These are White Hall to...

In light of the recent rainfall from Hurricane Sandy which affected the island on Wednesday, October 24, 2012, Director, Emergency, Disaster Management and Special Services, Dr. Marion Bullock DuCasse is urging persons to be vigilant and look for and destroy mosquito breeding sites.  “Remember that the country is experiencing an outbreak of dengue fever. In order to reduce the mosquito...

The  Ministry of Health has resumed its vector control operations, which had been suspended, due to the passage of Hurricane Sandy on October 24. This was disclosed by Director of Emergency Disaster Management and Special Services in the Ministry,Dr. Marion Bullock Ducasse,during an  interview with JIS News at the Bustamante Children’s Hospital in Kingston, on October  26. She informed that...

Director of Emergency, Disaster Management and Special Services at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Marion Bullock DuCasse, is urging all Jamaicans to take the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of water-borne diseases, in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Speaking at a press briefing on October 26, at the Ministry’s National Emergency Operation Centre at the Bustamante Children’s Hospital, in...

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller today received an update from the National Disaster Committee, on the impact of Hurricane Sandy and the relief efforts now underway, especially in the hardest hit areas. Relief airlifts are currently underway to five cut off communities in the mountainous border region between St Andrew and St Thomas. The Jamaica Defence Force is providing airlifts...

The National Water Commission (NWC) now continues islandwide assessment of the level of damage from Hurricane Sandy, while simultaneously effecting repairs to its facilities and systems. All water supply and wastewater systems that can be operated are now being operated. Steps are also being taken to effect emergency repairs and conduct other critical activities to restore piped water supply to...

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The Meteorological Service has discontinued the Hurricane Warning for Jamaica as significant improvement in weather conditions is now being experienced after the passage of Hurricane Sandy. The island is no longer at threat of hurricane or tropical storm force winds as Sandy continues to move away. At 4:00 a.m. the centre of Hurricane Sandy was located near Latitude 20.9 degrees...