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President and Chief Executive Officer of the Jamaica Public Service (JPS), Damian Obligio, has said that customers will not be asked to pay for repairs related to Hurricane Dean. Speaking in an exclusive JIS interview yesterday (Aug. 22), Mr. Obligio said, "there is now a self-insurance fund built up overtime that should (have) enough money to cover this event." He...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has been advised by the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPSCo.) that it is committed to restoring electricity to most of its customers by the end of the week. Phased restoration has commenced, starting with essential services such as hospitals, airports etc. Areas likely to receive power supply today, August 21 are:...

The following are current reports from the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) of the impact of Hurricane Dean on Jamaica: Casualties To date the ODPEM has confirmed that two persons died as a result of Hurricane Dean: One person died in Clarendon as a result of injuries sustained from a collapsed roof. A 14-year-old girl from Whitehorses,...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has said that its operations are now in full relief mode, with the emergency distribution of relief supplies such as bedding and water, among other critical items. Director of Information and Training at ODPEM, Kretchet Douglas-Greaves, told JIS News that the relief effort was being conducted across the island through the...

Hundreds of persons who sought shelter from Hurricane Dean in Western Jamaica on August 19, have since returned home. Some 2,270 residents from low-lying flood prone areas in western Jamaica sought refuge in 100 shelters in Westmoreland, Hanover and St. James as a result of the hurricane, which battered the island, particularly the south coast. The category Four storm spared...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is processing the list of relief supplies pledged by overseas donors, so that it can better match and meet the needs that emerge from damage assessments now underway. Director of Information and Training at ODPEM, Kretchet Douglas-Greaves, told JIS News today (Aug. 21) that the agency has received "numerous pledges for...

The Jamaica Public Service Company Limited (JPSCo) is expected to complete its assessment of the extent of the damage caused by Hurricane Dean today (August 21), even as power is being restored to certain sections of the island. Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller made this announcement yesterday (August 20), at a special post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, to provide...

The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office has withdrawn its advice against travel to Jamaica. The official advice against all travel to Jamaica was imposed in anticipation of Hurricane Dean affecting the island. "Hurricane Dean passed 40 miles south of Jamaica on the August 19. The Foreign Office has now withdrawn its advice against all travel to Jamaica. However, there has...

Minister of Industry, Technology, Energy and Commerce, Phillip Paulwell, has said that normality is being restored to the commercial sector in the wake of Hurricane Dean and there is adequate supply of food items. The Minister, who chaired a meeting with major distributors and importers of food items and lumber today (Aug. 21) at his PCJ offices in Kingston, said...

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller is assuring Jamaicans that the State of Public Emergency that was declared Sunday night, following the passage of Hurricane Dean, is designed to protect lives and property and to ensure the safety of all persons in Jamaica and its territorial waters during the disaster. The Prime Minister gave this assurance on Monday (August 20) while...

The Hurricane warning was lifted for the island of Jamaica at 10:00am by the Meteorological Service. In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Dean the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) reports that, regrettably, two persons were confirmed dead from the parishes of Clarendon and St. Thomas. BLOCKED ROADWAYSA number of blocked roads have been reported from the Kingston...

Prime Minister, Portia Simpson Miller, has said that island-wide assessments are now underway to determine the extent of the damage caused by Hurricane Dean. Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller (left), in discussion with Minister of Local Government and Environment, Dean Peart (right), and Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Desmond McKenzie during a tour of Caribbean Terrace in East Kingston that has...