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Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Ronald Jackson, said on November 3, that his office could begin recommending voluntary evacuation for persons in flood prone areas as soon as this evening. He was addressing a press conference called to discuss evacuation procedures and the opening of shelters, in light of Tropical Depression Tomas, at...

Jamaica's Prime Minister, Hon. Bruce Golding, called on Barbados' Prime Minister, Freundel Stuart, today (November 3), to express condolences on the passing of David Thompson, late Prime Minister of Barbados. Mr. Golding, who attended the State Funeral for the late Prime Minister, paid tribute to Mr. Thompson. The Prime Minister said the entire Caribbean Community has been left much poorer...

State Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Local Government Reform, Hon. Robert Montague is reminding persons who find it necessary to use shelters during storms or other disasters, that they must take their own food supplies to these facilities. "No food is provided in a shelter until after the event. Persons who have homes that...

A Tropical Storm Watch remains in effect for Jamaica as Tropical Depression Tomas reorganizes itself. This means that tropical storm conditions now pose a possible threat to the island within 48 hours. At 1:00 p.m. the centre of Tropical Depression Tomas was located near Latitude 14.8 degrees North, Longitude 75.0 degrees West; about 370 km (230 miles) south-southeast of Morant...

Initiatives by Government to expand services to the community were outlined by Minister of State for Local Government, Hon. Robert Montague, at the National Church Service for Local Government Month, at the Emanuel Apostolic Church, Port Maria, St. Mary on Sunday (October 31). The service, attended by representatives of the Department of Local Government and various Parish Councils, was hosted...

The Government is making special arrangements to assist communities that are still suffering from the effects of Tropical Storm Nicole, as Tomas, which was downgraded to a depression overnight, moves closer to the island. Addressing the House of Representatives last evening (Nov. 2), Minister with Responsibility for Information, Telecommunications, and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz, said that measures include, and...

A Hurricane Watch remains in effect for Jamaica as Tropical Depression Tomas is expected to re-strengthen today and tomorrow and then move close to the island. This means that hurricane conditions still pose a possible threat within 48 hours. At 7:00 a.m. the centre of Tropical Depression Tomas was located near Latitude 13.7 degrees North, Longitude 75.8 degrees West; about...

Flood waters in the district of Chigwell, eastern Hanover, continued to rise Tuesday (November 2), even as disaster preparedness coordinators go on full alert, in preparation for the bad weather conditions likely to result from the latest weather system, Tomas. Disaster Preparedness Coordinator in Hanover, Olga Fae Headley, told JIS News that the flood water levels in the districts of...

The Meteorological Service is reporting that over the past few hours Tropical Storm Tomas experienced slight weakening, but is still expected to re-strengthen within the next 24-48 hours over the south-central Caribbean Sea. At 1:00 p.m. the centre of Tropical Storm Tomas was located near Latitude 13.5 degrees North, Longitude 74.5 degrees West; about 520 km (320 miles) south-southeast of...

A Hurricane Watch is now in effect for Jamaica as Tropical Storm Tomas moves on a track that is forecast to take it close to the east coast as a Category 2 hurricane. This means that hurricane conditions pose a possible threat within 48 hours. At 4:00 p.m. the centre of Tropical Storm Tomas was located near Latitude 13.5 degrees...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is reminding persons to take the necessary precautions in the event of a potential Hurricane threat. The following are safety tips and survival kits that could be used before, during and after the event. Safety TipsPrior to a Hurricane: Check thoroughly the roof of your house, hurricane shutters, hooks and latches...

The Meteorological Service is advising that Tropical Storm Tomas continues to move westward but could re-strengthen near Jamaica later this week. On the forecast track, Tomas is expected to remain a tropical storm south of Hispaniola until Wednesday, dramatically turn towards Haiti on Thursday and move across Haiti to the North Atlantic Ocean on Friday. Jamaica should feel impacts from...