Persons Urged to Bring Essential Items to Shelters

Residents making their way to shelters across the island ahead of the passage of Hurricane Beryl are being reminded to bring essential supplies to last up to three days.

“We normally say to persons, bring your food supplies – non-perishables –because persons themselves can’t cook in the shelters,” Acting Director General, Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Richard Thompson told JIS News.

He informed that each Municipal Corporation will make provision for meals, if necessary, adding that assistance will be provided by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the Jamaica Red Cross.

Mr. Thompson also informed that persons should remember to bring their medications and adequate supplies for babies.

He pointed out that there are instances where blankets are provided at shelters, but persons can also bring their own.

Meanwhile, Mr. Thompson stressed the importance of moving early, whether to national shelters or to the homes of families and friends.

“Don’t move in the height of the system. Persons normally get caught up then and get into problems,” he said.

Information relating to the location of shelters in each parish may be accessed via ODPEM’s website.