With weather experts predicting six to 11 named storms for the 2015 Atlantic hurricane season, we hope that governments in this region, particularly the Administration in Jamaica, are well prepared for any effects from this destructive force of nature.

The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which is based in the United States, has told us that, of the 11 named storms, six could become hurricanes and two major hurricanes with winds in excess of 111 miles per hour.

Our concern has its foundation in our experience over the past few decades, certainly going as far back as 1988 when Hurricane Gilbert, packing winds of up to 140 miles per hour, pummelled the entire island on September 12 for eight hours.

Gilbert killed 45 people and, according to data from the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), caused estimated loss to the island’s domestic crops of $769 million.

The banana industry, comprising 12,000 acres for the local market and 7,100 for the export market, was totally destroyed.

Homes, other buildings and roads were destroyed, while damage to the vital tourism sector was estimated at $431 million.

It took Jamaica months to recover from the effects of that hurricane. However, one benefit from that awful experience was that it awakened the country to the need for disaster risk management.

For, while Jamaica has been hit by other storms in succeeding years, overall, we have found that the authorities and the general populace have been better prepared, even though there are a few areas in need of improvement.

It is against that background that we support the concern about complacency expressed by Mr Ronald Jackson, executive director of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA).

Mr Jackson, who previously headed Jamaica’s ODPEM, is reported as saying that, while he acknowledges the importance of the focus on climate change being heavy on clean technology energy efficiency, there needs to be a requisite focus on the areas of preparedness for response.

Mr Jackson correctly noted that, while the Caribbean would not be spared the impact of climate change, it was vital that we look at the related effects, such as increases in vector-related issues like mosquito-borne illnesses and more weather-related issues, including floods and droughts and put systems in place to address them.

It seems to us that Caribbean governments need to address these concerns, because if, as Mr Jackson said, “we are not investing in the ability to cope with these expected scenarios”, nor are we “increasing the capacities of our first responder core such as our fire fighters, (or) our health services”, then we are courting disaster.

There’s nothing we can do to stop storms from hitting us. However, we can do a lot to limit the loss, pain and cost of the recovery process.