JDF to Establish Operational Hubs In Trelawny, Westmoreland and Hanover to Streamline Relief Efforts
By: , November 14, 2025
Photo: Reneek Brown
A resident waits to have his device charged at the charging station manned by members of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF). Occasion was a post-hurricane Melissa support project staged by For Your Image Consultancy (FYI) and Friends, at the William Knibb Memorial High School in Falmouth, Trelawny, on Wednesday (November 5).
Photo: Donald De La Haye
Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Commander Alvin Gayle, gives an update on relief efforts at a Special Press Briefing on Hurricane Melissa Recovery, held at Jamaica House in Kingston, on Thursday (November 13).The Full Story
The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) will be establishing operational hubs in Trelawny, Westmoreland, and Hanover over the next 48 hours, to streamline Hurricane Melissa relief efforts in those parishes.
This is in addition to the two national Hurricane Melissa relief warehouses and parish operational hubs already existing in St. Elizabeth, Clarendon, Kingston and St. James.
The disclosure was made by Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Commander Alvin Gayle, during a Special Press Briefing on Hurricane Melissa Recovery, held at Jamaica House on Thursday (November 13),
He stated that the JDF is also maintaining 22 disaster relief outposts and has completed 207 flights to sustain air and ground logistics during its continued relief operations.
“Through combined efforts of the ODPEM and our partner agencies, more than 90,000 care packages have been issued and over 570,000 hot meals distributed to affected communities,” Commander Gayle shared.
The ODPEM Head added that relief supplies will be delivered to 22 communities across St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, and Trelawny today.
Meanwhile, he noted that the national recovery effort continues to be strengthened by the extraordinary generosity of individuals, organisations and partners both here and abroad.
“To date, over some 15,000 donors have contributed a total amount of over J$540 million to the Government’s official disaster relief platform. These donations reflect the deep compassion and unity of the Jamaican people, the private sector, the diaspora and the international donor community,” Commander Gayle outlined.
He pointed out that churches and faith-based groups continue to play an invaluable role in the recovery efforts, as they have undertaken large-scale distribution of food, clothing and care packages across multiple parishes, ensuring help reaches those in the most vulnerable communities.