Portland Relief Organisations on Alert

Emergency relief organisations in Portland have been placed on full alert, in anticipation of the expected effects of Tropical Storm Gustav, on that parish.
Representatives of these organisations, gave the assurance at a meeting of the Portland Parish Disaster Committee, held at the Portland Parish Council, on Tuesday (August 26).
The meeting was chaired by the Mayor of Port Antonio, Councillor Floyd Patterson, while the organisations represented, were the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), the National Water Commission (NWC), the Portland Health Department, the Portland Fire Brigade, the Portland Red Cross, the Salvation Army, the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the Adventist Relief Agency, and the National Works Agency (NWA).
The representatives, gave a detailed report of the preparations being made by the organisations, to minimise the possible effects of the tropical storm and to respond to any damage and dislocation it might cause.
In her address, Portland’s Disaster Coordinator, Denise Lewis, said the Portland Parish Disaster Committee, was carefully monitoring the situation and will be working around the clock, to deal with any emergency situation caused by the tropical storm.
Noting that the Emergency Operation Centre will be immediately activated once it becomes necessary to do so, she said all the zonal disaster committees in the parish, have already been mobilised in response to the threat.
She added that arrangements have already been made with gas stations and supermarket operators in Port Antonio, to reserve fuel for use in the aftermath of any disaster that may occur, and to supply food if this becomes necessary.