News that torrential rain across Central America have left at least 27 people dead in landslides and flooding over the past week, mainly in El Salvador, but also in Guatemala and Honduras, has put us on further warning about the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

Wire service reports tell us that El Salvador’s Environment Minister Fernando Lopez said the deluge was a result of low pressure over the Pacific Ocean, with indirect influence from Tropical Storm Alberto which left four people dead in Mexico.

Among those killed were two girls whose home was buried by a landslide.

In neighbouring Guatemala, authorities reported seven deaths and said flooding had damaged roads and bridges.

The Honduras Permanent Commission for Contingencies reported one death, with 3,500 people affected and more than 200 homes damaged. We are also told that several communities are cut off due to rising rivers in southern Honduras near the border with El Salvador; and while no deaths have been reported in Nicaragua, authorities have warned of rising rivers, flooded homes, and damage to roads.

The toll, in terms of life and damage to property and infrastructure is always devastating at this time of year.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has already told us that the Atlantic Hurricane Season is forecast to be extraordinary, with up to seven storms of Category 3 or higher expected.

“The forecast for named storms — hurricanes and major hurricanes — is the highest the NOAA has ever issued for the May outlook,” Mr Rick Spinrad of the NOAA told us last month as the agency forecast that between 17 and 25 named storms in total could develop with winds stronger than 39 miles per hour. Of that number, eight to 13 are forecast to reach hurricane strength.

Mr Spinrad correctly pointed out that: “It only takes one storm to devastate a community.” We have seen the evidence of that from last week’s torrential rain across Central America.

As we have pointed out before, we in this region can relate to that as we have often had the bitter experience of homes, property, and infrastructure being devastated by extremely strong tropical cyclones that leave communities and, in some instances, entire countries without electricity and water for weeks.

We reiterate our appeal to use the NOAA forecast to guide our actions to lessen or, in some instances, prevent disaster. No effort to clear drains of debris, ensure that shelters are prepared, and, vitally, our homes are secure, can be too much.

Hopefully, we will be spared a direct hit. However, we cannot rely on Mother Nature’s mercy. The key is for us to be prepared.

We again commend the Government for securing
— for a second time
— financing of insurance coverage against named storms through a US$150-million catastrophe bond raised on the global financial markets by the World Bank on Jamaica’s behalf.

That is an excellent example of preparedness. But we cannot say it enough that every single Jamaican has a duty to take personal responsibility for their safety.