Two Emergency Relief Storage Units to be Built in North Clarendon

Two emergency relief supplies storage facilities will be constructed at the Frankfield Police Station and Kellits Primary School to serve communities in north Clarendon.

This was disclosed by Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, during the launch of the national hurricane preparedness campaign at the Banquet Hall, Jamaica House, recently.

“They will ensure that disaster relief supplies are readily available at all times. It is estimated that over 50,000 people live within those areas, which cover about 15 communities in northern Clarendon,” he said.

Minister McKenzie noted that the most northern parts of Clarendon are isolated from May Pen, which is the parish’s distribution hub for disaster-relief items.

“So, what this means is that in most cases, the relief response to the communities is placed under great stress because when an incident occurs access is restricted by flooding and landslides,” he pointed out.

“This is the Government’s mitigation response to these communities,” he added.

The Minister, in the meantime, urged the country’s mayors to ensure that the various response and emergency committees, especially the zonal disaster committees are functioning with “maximum efficiency”.

“I want to encourage the disaster coordinators to redouble their efforts in all the parishes,” he said.

The Meteorological Service of Jamaica forecasts that the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season will be active with 10 to 16 tropical storms, five to nine hurricanes and one to four major hurricanes at category three and above.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30.