OFFICE OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT – NEWS RELEASE # 10 – HURRICANE WILMA

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has been advised that as the island continues to experience the effects of Hurricane Wilma, the threat of flooding still remains imminent.
Recent reports have been received from sections of St. Elizabeth, Manchester, Clarendon St. Ann and St. Catherine as the rains continue to severely affect these parishes. In case of emergencies, persons are being asked to contact their Parish Emergency Operations Centre, which is located at each Parish Council Office islandwide.
Search and Rescue is currently underway in Big Pond in St. Catherine where several persons have been marooned. The Jamaica Fire Brigade is currently on the ground carrying out rescue operations and the ODPEM will be supporting these evacuation operations. Also, the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) with the assistance of the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) are currently carrying out rescue operations in the Clarendon Park area of Clarendon which has been severely flooded.
Over in Manchester, a family of five has been flooded out in Alligator Pond. Shelter arrangements are being organized. The Jamaica Fire Brigade also evacuated four persons from an area of Mandeville to private residences today as the rains continue to affect central Jamaica.
New reports of impassable roads and flooding incidents have been received by the ODPEM.
St. Catherine – Flooding Bullet Tree8 Miles – BartonsBannister
Clarendon – Flooding
Rock River Howard Avenue, Western Park – May PenFour PathsHazard Drive, May PenSalt River Road Toll Gate
St. Ann – Flooding and Blocked Roads
Water levels are rising in Pedro River and Cave Valley
Flooding is being experienced in Thatch Walk, Ping Ping Gully, Swamp and Four Man’s Hill in Moneague
The road to Douglas Castle in north St. Ann is impassable.
St. Elizabeth – Flooding and Blocked Roads
The Crawford to Hodges main road is blocked.
The Park to Fullerswood main road is also blocked.
The alternative route is Williamsfield to Pondside.
Sections of the Powell Town main road are flooded.