Go-Jamaica Weather Watch

WESTERN BUREAU: As Hurricane Dean continues to take aim at Jamaica; emergency stakeholders and residents across western Jamaica were yesterday (Friday) fine-tuning preparations in the event that the weather system impacts the island.

Checks made in the five western parishes reveal that response teams had instituted several strategies to deal with eventualities.

Coordinator of the St. Elizabeth Parish Disaster Committee, Yvonne Morrison,  summoned councillors and agencies to an emergency meeting on Friday. The 100 shelters across the parish were reportedly ready to house evacuees.

Over in Hanover all its 39 emergency shelters have been prepared for the passage of Hurricane Dean – the first Atlantic hurricane of 2007.  Mayor of Lucea, Councillor Vasca Brown, was at press time trying to source a generator to service the Lucea Police Station and Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) at the Hanover Parish Council- both of which are in close proximity.

There were reports of traffic congestion with one lane roadways accommodating two lanes of motor vehicles in the town of Savanna-la-Mar. There were also a mad rush at several supermarkets, wholesales and hardware stores where supplies were depleted as residents braced for Hurricane Dean.

At an emergency meeting of the St. James Disaster Preparedness Committee, it was concluded that the parish is in an advanced state of preparedness for Hurricane Dean, with all essential services in place.

“The emergency support team has already reviewed evacuation routes; and individuals in communities with special needs for assistance have been identified,” said Suzzette Brown, public and community relations officer at the council.

“In furtherance of its preparedness, the Council’s Roads and Works Department has been overseeing the cleaning of some critical drains in Montego Bay, in a continuous programme. These drains include ones at Embassy Place, Church Street, Union Street, Bevin Avenue, Railway Lane, Fustic Road and Barnett Street.”

Mayor of Falmouth, Jonathan Bartley, told The Gleaner that the parish of Trelawny was lacking emergency supplies.

He also pointed out that several drains in the parish that can lead to major flooding, and residents in flood-proned areas such Bottom Town near Clark’s Town, Wakefield, Zion, Salt marsh and a part of Stewart Castle.

“Our shelters and shelter manager are in place,” Mayor Bartley stated. “One major concern is the location of the Infirmary to the sea. We have to relocate those persons to Hague Primary School…but it is a tedious job as most of the patients are disabled and we don’t have the vehicles to do it.