The Office of Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Management (ODPEM) wishes to advise the public that the Island is now under a Flash Flood Watch. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH means that flash flooding is possible, and residents are advised to take precautionary measures, keep informed by listening to further releases from the Meteorological Service and be ready for quick action if...

Ten additional Municipal Corporations are being provided with FortiGate devices, valued approximately $12.3 million, to strengthen their digital framework and boost their technological capabilities. The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, through collaboration with the National Works Agency (NWA), e-Gov Jamaica Limited and the Universal Service Fund (USF), was able to procure FortiGate Firewalls to improve the Corporations’ information...

The Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) responded to 9,973 genuine calls over the period January to September this year, says Deputy Commissioner of Fire and Rescue Operations, Kevin Haughton. Speaking to the media following the staging of an Open Day at the Montego Bay Fire Station in St. James recently, Mr. Haughton said this represented a 59 per cent increase compared...

An interministerial body, headed by the Ministry of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport, is advanced in putting measures in place to address the issue of prank calls to emergency service providers. Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, in making the disclosure in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (Oct. 31), said the work of the interministerial...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, is commending the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) for its response to Monday’s (Oct.30) 5.6-magnitude earthquake. Speaking on Tuesday (Oct.31) in the House of Representatives, the Minister said that Jamaica’s rapid response mechanism, which was developed to deal with disasters, was in operation within 30 minutes of...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, is calling for wider discussions regarding traffic management, especially during a natural disaster. He argued that the matter was not the sole responsibility of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). “I think that there is a wider discussion that needs to be had, and we must not forget that there is...

Jamaicans are encouraged to continue inspecting their buildings for cracks, shifts in pillars, posts and other beams and structural members, and to seek a professional assessment if there is any damage. This reminder came from Acting Director General, Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Richard Thompson, during a press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister on...