MAY PEN, Clarendon — Determined not to be caught off guard by any damage caused by Hurricane Beryl, Clarendon Municipal Corporation on Monday pre-positioned supplies in the northern sections of the parish. In the past, several communities in these areas were cut off because of inclement weather, resulting in people being marooned.

Mayor Joel Williams gave the update during an emergency meeting convened to ascertain the level of preparedness of all the stakeholders and agencies in the parish.

“Also, as soon as the bulletins are issued we will be looking to relocate persons before the event, if the need arises, based on the instructions we are given. The shelter inspections have been done, the shelter listing has been updated and circulated, and the shelter managers have been contacted,” he said.

The corporation’s Chief Executive Officer Rowhan Blake stressed the importance of evacuating in time, should such a directive be issued.

“We need to get the persons to move, and ensure that they move when it is safe to do so,” he said.

Plans are already in place to move people living on the streets to the Clarendon Drop-in Centre, and Blake encouraged residents to look out for the elderly and most vulnerable among them.

Superintendent Horace Thomas, the commanding officer in charge of the Jamaica Fire Brigade’s Clarendon division, agreed with Blake that residents need to heed calls to evacuate.

“The fire department is ready and anticipating what is to come. We have one chainsaw and expect to get one more tomorrow. We, too, are craving compliance. The evacuation order must be adhered to because we will not be risking our lives. We will be assessing the situations and will only be responding when the situation becomes tolerable,” stressed Thomas.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has also reported that some items have been pre-positioned and their team has been mobilised.

Superintendent of Police Shane McCalla had a warning for criminals.

“The JCF is already making preparations in terms of the type of assistance to be provided to the EOC [Emergency Operations Centre] and to maintain a safe environment. We have also put in place plans for persons who will seek to use this disaster for their own criminal gains,” said the senior cop.

During the meeting, Dr Bradley Edwards reported that the management of May Pen Hospital may need to discharge some patients.

“They may not be in perfect condition but, based on assessment, we will have to send them home to make space for the casualties that may come in. There are mostly social cases housed in the field hospital, and we are looking at arrangements to move them to make some more space,” said Edwards.

In St Mary, Mayor of Port Maria Fitzroy Wilson was equally confident in the steps they have taken to prepare for Hurricane Beryl.

“I don’t think we can adequately be ready or prepared for a hurricane as we do not know what to expect. However, as far as getting things in place, we are prepared in that instance as we would have done drain mitigation work and de-bushing,” he told the Jamaica Observer on Sunday.

He explained that he has drawn on the wealth of experience gained from dealing with flooding in Port Maria.

“With the financial resources we have, we have dealt with drains that are most urgent,” Wilson stressed. “Hundred per cent of the main drains in the town have been cleared. [These] would normally be clogged, such as the drains at Warner Street, Main Street, Stennett Street, the drains at Port Maria Primary, and the Port Maria housing scheme.”

The mayor further highlighted that the council has reached out to Jamaica Public Service Co Ltd to clear foliage from some power lines, and the company has done so.

He also provided an update on the state of the parish’s shelters.

“Our emergency supplies and shelters have all been checked and everything is up to standard,” the mayor stated.

He urged residents of Port Maria who are normally impacted by flooding to be vigilant and prepared to move to shelters.

“Self-preservation is key. If you do not take care of yourself, you will not be around to take care of anyone,” he said. “Persons are to remember the before- and after-effect of a hurricane, therefore one should be vigilant and be prepared to go to a shelter early.”