AS Hurricane Dean increased in strength yesterday and headed for the island, the government expressed satisfaction with the measures that had been put in place in preparation for the onslaught of the powerful storm.

With the island’s emergency response agencies on full alert as the country braces for what is likely to be a direct hit from the category four hurricane, Minister of Information, Donald Buchanan told the Sunday Observer yesterday that an emergency meeting was convened by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller at Jamaica House to discuss the island’s readiness. The emergency meeting came on the heels of a previous one called by the prime minister on Friday with the country’s national disaster preparedness committee.

“We had a meeting at about 1:00 pm today [yesterday] where we got reports from the Jamaica Public Service (JPS), the National Water Commission (NWC), the National Works Agency (NWA), ODPEM and the Met Office about the level of readiness. And so far, we are on track,” Buchanan said.

Buchanan said the individual agencies reported that their preparations were on target.

“All the JPS offices have indicated that that they are in complete readiness to begin serving customers as soon as the hurricane has passed. The NWA has done all its work so far, and the National Water Commission (NWC) has implemented all its emergency measures,” Buchanan said.

“The ODPEM centre is now operational and will be co-ordinating all relief efforts,” he added.

The government’s other finalised evacuation plans include making the National Arena a shelter, and relocating inmates from two maximum security prisons. The political parties have also suspended their campaigning operations for the August 27 national elections, to allow residents to prepare for the storm.

Dean, which is the first major hurricane of the 2007 hurricane season, has so far pounded the Eastern Caribbean islands of Martinique, Dominica and St Lucia and has strengthened considerably on its path towards Jamaica.

At about 4:00 pm yesterday, the weather system was located at about 455 miles (735 km) east south-east of Kingston and approximately 165 miles (270 km) south of Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic), packing winds of 150 mph.

Yesterday, in the Corporate area and across the island, most Jamaicans showed that they were taking the hurricane warning seriously as they stocked up on emergency supplies and secured their properties.

At the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI), all activities were put on hold until the threat of the hurricane has passed and further notice is given. Orientation for parents and students were scheduled to begin today, but those have been postponed.

A release issued by the Safety and Management Unit at the Mona Campus, said all Jamaican students who reside on the campus had been advised to vacate the halls of residence and return home, while special arrangements for accommodation for non-Jamaicans would be made.

Speaking with the Sunday Observer yesterday, Sashell Smith, administrative director of the Safety and Management Unit said the campus Assembly Hall was being looked at for use as a shelter for students and staff.