As the hurricane begins, roadside assistance club Jamaica Automobile Association (JAA) has kicked of its annual road rescue and tree clearing operations, that will last for the six-month season.

“As part of our corporate social responsibility, the JAA maintains strong links with the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), the Jamaica Red Cross and other emergency respondents, so that we can assist with road clearance and other services when the need arises,” Emile Spence, head of the JAA said recently.

Spence was outlining the JAA’s operations for the season, and maintained that, “Hurricane preparedness is serious business, even as we actively pursue our national membership drive.”

The JAA is currently on a national membership drive to sensitise motorists on the assistance offered by the club in the event of a breakdown

“Knowing that one is a member of an automobile club, which offers emergency services before, during, and in the aftermath of a natural disaster, provides a sense of comfort to many Jamaicans,” said Spence.

“Each year, the auto club routinely begins preparation in May. Our team members take stock of all the equipment needed including power saws; CB radios for communication; as well as medical supplies, and ensure that our vehicles are capable of handling bad weather,” he explained.

Spence said that the JAA has formed alliances with Disaster Preparedness Committees such as the Portmore Disaster Preparedness Committee and has strengthened its tem by including the Cadet corps.

“All our technicians are certified in a number of critical areas. In addition to their roadside competencies, they are certified to handle hazardous material, some types of heavy equipment; and are trained and qualified to respond to specific medical emergencies., JAA operations manager, Duane Ellis noted..

“Each year, we work out our logistics. We reconfirm where our technicians live, to establish that their housing is adequate, so that we can determine if they will need to be evacuated, or if they will need assistance. We also use that information to create a map and zone our technicians for emergency deployment,” Ellis explained.

Technicians are often requested to work within a 20-mile radius of their home following a disastrous weather feature, the JAA said adding that as a hurricane veers towards landfall, within 24 hours, its team moves into emergency mode

“As the storm warnings narrow down the impact to within 12 hours, we focus on motorists travelling in dangerous zones and try to lead them to safety or to give them assistance if they need it,” Sydney Wedderburn, a senior JAA Response Technician, explained.

“And, we remain on patrol until it is no longer safe for us to be on the streets.”

According to the JAA during the passage of Tropical Storm Gustav in 2008 the team patrolling the Harbour View to Bull Bay area in St Andrew, retreated less than an hour before the collapse of the Harbour View Bridge, which links St Andrew with the parish of St Thomas.

“We were out there up to the very last minute, so that we could provide updates to the media and to the other emergency services, as well as provide assistance to persons who were rushing to get home just before the storm made landfall,” Ellis recalled.

He said that after the passage of Gustav the JAA team members were back on the roads to clear fallen trees, and assist with directing traffic, as well as guiding displaced persons to safety.

“The first 72 hours after the Hurricane passes are the most important,” Ellis said. “We head to the streets to provide assistance in clearing road blocks and assist motorists and the marooned. Our surveillance usually continues until most roads are open; and we work side-by-side with other emergency services.”