ODPEM Holds Disaster Awareness Sessions in Hanover

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is staging a series of disaster mitigation sensitisation sessions in the parish of Hanover, targeted at residents in flood-prone areas and other critical stakeholders.

Representatives of a number of key agencies were addressed at a special meeting of the Hanover Parish Disaster Committee, held on Thursday (November 6) at the parish council offices in Lucea.

Senior Director for Mitigation Planning and Research at ODPEM, Karema Aikens Mitchell, addressed the session, which was attended by representatives of the parish council, the fire and police departments, Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), Salvation Army, and the National Works Agency (NWA).

Mrs. Aikens Mitchell said ODPEM has been working with the Hanover Parish Council to reach residents of vulnerable areas, to educate them on disaster preparedness and mitigation measures.

She said that focus is being placed on areas such as Logwood and the West End community in Negril which, over the years, have experienced challenges due to storm surges.

She pointed out that players in the agricultural sector will also receive attention under a section of the plan being led by the Ministry of Agriculture through the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA).

The ODPEM representative said as time goes by, other stakeholders, including those in the hospitality sector, particularly in the Negril area, will be targeted on matters relating to disaster mitigation awareness.

She said the aim is to prepare “what is called a Climate Risk Atlas for the Negril area.”