PM Summons Meeting of National Disaster Committee

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has called a meeting of the National Disaster Committee for tomorrow, Friday, August 17, 2007, at Jamaica House.
In making the announcement, Mrs. Simpson Miller said the meeting would receive status reports on the state of readiness of the various agencies and review the response strategy should the island be affected by Hurricane Dean.
Mrs. Simpson Miller said that while it may be too early to determine the eventual course the Hurricane will take, it was important that all the necessary measures are in place to minimize any possible effects as well as ensure quick recovery should the island be impacted by the hurricane.
The latest reports from the Met Office put Hurricane Dean as a Category One storm and based on its current path could take it close to Jamaica.
At tomorrow’s meeting update reports will be presented by agencies such as ODPEM, the Meteorological Service, Parish Disaster Committees and Sub-committees on emergency operations and damage assessment.
Among the agencies expected to attend the meeting are the Fire Department, JDF, NEPA, National Works Agency, Parish Disaster Committees, ODPEM, Ministries of Health, Local Government and the Met Office.