LATEST NEWS:
News
ODPEM trying to close gap in relief supplies
BY INGRID BROWN, Observer senior reporter browni@jamaicaobserver.com
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is working to close a gap in the shortfall of relief supplies necessary to meet the needs of Jamaicans who would most likely be displaced if the country is hit by a major hurricane this season.
 |
| Jackson. while we are not where we need to be, there is no need to panic |
According to ODPEM Director General Ronald Jackson, the in-house emergency supplies can meet the needs of 10,000 - 12,000 displaced persons, although the country's target should be in the region of 50,000.
The ODPEM boss was addressing the weekly Observer Monday Exchange meeting of reporters and editors at the newspaper's head office in Kingston.
"The shortfall is significant... for a category three or four hurricane, using the number of vulnerable communities, the capacity we really should be planning for is 150,000 to 200,000," Jackson said.
Additionally, Jackson said they will also have to look at the mechanism of activating external assistance since there is no way there will be resources in the country to respond to the needs of all the people who could become displaced.
 |
| Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management Ronald Jackson (right) addressing reporters and editors yesterday at the weekly Observer Monday Exchange meeting held at the newspaper's head office in Kingston.(Photo: Joseph Wellington) |
"It is just not something that is possible," he said.
"While we are not where we need to be, there is no need to panic. If we work together we can deal with this thing," Jackson added.
And although the number of expected systems for this hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30, has been revised downwards from a maximum of 14 to six, Jackson said it will only take one system to cause devastation.
As it relates to persons evacuating vulnerable areas at the approach of a storm, Jackson said legislation enforcing mandatory evacuation cannot be the only answer. Citing Cuba as an example, he said Cubans are not forced to evacuate but are socialised to do so.
He said, however, that there has been a steady increase in the number of persons who have willingly evacuated since Hurricane Ivan in 2004.
"One has to be careful looking at legislation, and it has to be a dialogue between parties so that you don't end up with a scenario where people say "is because we poor why you send man with gun to move us out of our community", he said, adding that there has to be sensitivity in dealing with the issue.
This, he added, is necessary against the backdrop that there is a major issue of security when persons leave their homes. As such, he said dialogue has already begun with the Jamaica Defence Force and the Jamaica Constabulary Force to come up with strategies to secure communities once residents leave.
Jackson said the ODPEM has also sought to improve the shelter experience, having established at least 150 priority shelters which will have a cot or a foam pad and blanket for each person. Additionally, a number of Red Cross volunteers have been trained to man the shelters.
As the emergency agency continues to examine lessons learnt from Hurricane Ivan, a category four system, Jackson said another strategy for this hurricane season will be to look at the demographics of who are often displaced.
As part of the mitigation process the agency is currently involved in a safe housing project which entails effecting repairs to the roofs of 1,500 houses for vulnerable groupings such as single mothers with small children and the elderly.
Jackson explained that with the support of the HEART/TRUST some households will receive direct assistance in repairing their roofs, while in other cases the agency will see to the provision of the material and the beneficiaries will effect the repairs under supervision.
This, he said, is expected to minimise the number of persons displaced by any hurricane.
"The programme is for nine months and we are hoping to finish it by August," he said. Work, he added, has already been done in St Thomas, Portland, and sections of St Catherine, after which they will move to St Mary and some sections of the Corporate Area.
Jackson said these persons were chosen for this benefit after careful assessment by a team from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, and, to the best of his knowledge, the selection was not tainted by political interference.
Other Stories
New BOJ governor takes office a week early
Teenage girl questioned about murder of 93-y-o man
Shopping stimulus for 'Downtown'
Gov't moves to save $300m in health-care costs
Secrecy legislation being used to circumvent ATI
Police send warning to event promoters
Man who killed wife in his sleep freed
RSS Feeds