Public Urged to Avoid Compromised Infrastructure During Hurricane Melissa

The public is strongly advised to avoid contact with infrastructure that may be compromised, particularly in areas affected by floodwaters associated with Hurricane Melissa.

This urging comes from Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development with Responsibility for Works, Hon. Robert Morgan.

“If the bridge looks shaky, do not attempt to go on the bridge or cross the bridge. Do not try to traverse gullies that are flooded. We have had historical evidence of persons in very powerful vehicles, seeking to traverse gullies and they lost the competition. So we are advising the public that this is a serious hurricane. Our gullies cannot be used while they are flooded,” the Minister reiterated.

He was providing an update from the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) on mitigation works undertaken by the National Works Agency (NWA) ahead of Hurricane Melissa’s projected landfall, during a media briefing held at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) in Kingston on Monday (October 27).

Minister Morgan advised the public to heed advisories issued by ODPEM and other relevant authorities, who will provide official updates on the safety of bridges and road infrastructure.

He added that the NWA will conduct rapid assessments, once Hurricane Melissa has passed and conditions are deemed safe.

“We will be doing critical assessments of our important infrastructure, and we will advise the public when this infrastructure is in a state that it can accommodate persons and traffic,” Mr. Morgan informed.

The Minister noted that the assessments would also include impacted utilities along affected roadways, such as power lines, to ensure public safety.

“Because you see a power line fallen does not mean that the lines are dead. Sometimes our teams have to wait on the utility companies to tell us that the lines do not have electricity in them before we can clear the road. Those are some of the things that we have to do before we start clearing,” he explained.

In the meantime, Mr. Morgan is urging members of the public to report any bridge or structure that appears damaged, cracked, or unstable to the NWA Emergency Centre at (658) 213-2557-60, (876) 312-3991, or (876) 312-3987.

The public may also contact ODPEM to report damaged infrastructure or other emergency concerns.

Minister Morgan expressed gratitude to the NWA teams, contractors, first responders, and community volunteers, “who continue to serve on the front lines of this period of national emergency”.