The Crucible with @lutherbrown

Monday, August 20, 2007

Connect with The ODPEM in Jamaica

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management is committed to taking pro-active and timely measures to prevent or reduce the impact of hazards on Jamaica, its people, natural resources and economy through its trained and professional staff, the use of appropriate technology and collaborative efforts with national, regional and international agencies.

HURRICANE WARNING LIFTED

OFFICE OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

For Immediate Release

NEWS RELEASE # 15

ISSUED ON: Monday, August 20, 2007 at 6:00pm

HURRICANE WARNING LIFTED FOR THE ISLAND

The Hurricane warning was lifted for the island of Jamaica at 10:00am by the Meteorological Service. In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Dean the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) reports that, regrettably, two persons were confirmed dead from the parishes of Clarendon and St. Thomas.

Blocked Roadways

A number of blocked roads have been reported from the Kingston Metropolitan Area, Western and Northeastern sections of the island, details of which are as follows:

Westmoreland:

Single lane traffic from Bogue to Content
Hopeton to Auchin Town blocked
Chestercastle to Jacksongate (Westmoreland end) blocked
Single lane traffic in the Three Miles area

St. James:

Anchovy to Mount Honeb is impassable and the Richmond route is reduced to single lane traffic.
Downed JPS wires from Chestercastle to Jacksongate (Hanover end)

Trelawny:

Single lane traffic from:

Rock to Steer Town
Falmouth to Springvale
Martha Brae to Kinloss

Work is currently in progress to clear all blocked roads from:

Rio Bueno to Jackson Town
Duncans to Long Pond
Salt Marsh to Kent
Hamdem to Wakefield
Deeside to Drumily

Portland:

All main roads have been cleared except roadways from Muirton to Fair Prospect and Hector’s River to Muirton in Buff Bay.

St. Catherine:

The Bog Walk area and roads from Ewarton to Mount Diablo are open to single lane traffic.

St. Ann

Single lane traffic:

From Priory to Bamboo
Hopewell to Ocho Rios
Green Park to St. Ann’s Bay
Milford to Parry Town
Brown’s Town to Bamboo
Brown’s Town to Alexandria
Moneague to Blackstonedge

Shelters:

Earlier today 268 shelters remained open across the island, housing some 6,445 persons. This number is expected to decrease as persons return to their respective homes.

Airports:

The roadway leading to the Norman Manley airport is now open to single lane traffic and the airport is currently accommodating emergency flights only. Full operations should resume tomorrow. At the other end of the island, the Donald Sangster Airport has re-opened to the public.

Coordination of Relief Supplies:

The National Welfare Sub-committee has met and is seeking to establish registration centres for the impacted communities. These registration centres will be located at Seven-Day Adventist Churches island-wide and other soon to be named locations. Emergency distribution of critical relief supplies has commenced and is being coordinated through the Parish Disaster Committee.

Further updates will be supplied as available.

Contact:

Krechet Douglas-Greaves

Information and Training Unit, ODPEM

928-5111-4

kdouglas-greaves@odpem.org.jm