KINGTSON, July 6 (JIS): Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., says that over 200 residents have been displaced in Rocky Point, Clarendon due to flooding or damage to homes from the passage of Hurricane Beryl. Minister Charles Jr., who was speaking at the Rocky Point Community Centre on Saturday (July 6), during a tour of the...

MONTEGO BAY, July 6 (JIS): Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, is expressing confidence in Jamaica’s disaster preparedness and response systems following the passage of Hurricane Beryl. He said that although the Government is awaiting a comprehensive post-hurricane analysis, the initial assessment suggests that the nation's readiness measures have paid off. “My sense is that generally our systems worked,...

KINGSTON, July 6 (JIS): The National Water Commission (NWC) will be providing a schedule for phased service restoration to customers now without piped water in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl. Some 335 NWC water systems islandwide were impacted during the hurricane’s passage on Wednesday (July 3) and are out of service Minister Without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth...

Several of the island’s harbours have been reopened in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl. The Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ) advised that the locations which were reopened on Thursday (July 4) are Kingston Harbour, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios/Reynolds Pier, Port Antonio, Portland Bight/Old Harbour Bay and Noranda Bauxite Pier. This was done after the completion of surveys and a review...

KINGSTON, July 5 (JIS): The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is encouraging members of the public to observe critical post-sever weather safeguards. After a severe weather system, citizens should continue to monitor updates from reliable, government-approved official communications channels. Acting Director General, ODPEM, Richard Thompson, said the environment may be unsafe following a severe weather event, underscoring...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and its partner agencies have commenced initial damage assessments of sections of the island damaged by Hurricane Beryl. Acting Director General, Richard Thompson, told JIS News that information received by the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) indicates that some homes and public infrastructure have sustained damage resulting from flooding and storm...

More than 50 shelter managers and key stakeholders across St. Elizabeth gathered to discuss strategies to safeguard communities against disaster, during a Shelter Management Conference held in Santa Cruz on Wednesday (June 26). Held under the theme ‘Be Disaster Aware: Plan, Mitigate and Prepare’, the event focused on readiness, community engagement and the vital role that shelter managers play in...