EVEN though Beryl is projected to downgrade and hit Jamaica as a Category 2 hurricane by Wednesday afternoon, Prime Minister Andrew Holness is encouraging Jamaicans to take the system as a serious threat, but not to panic.

“It is a time for us to be very strategic and calculated in our approach. We have 48 hours in which to prepare. Within that 48 hours a lot will change, but we [need to take] this precautionary stance now because it is easier to be prepared when you’re standing on your two feet than when you are in the midst of a hurricane, struck down. So we are being not overly cautious, not in a panic mode,” the prime minister said at a press conference at Jamaica House on Monday, a few hours after the island was placed on hurricane watch.

At the same time, head of Meteorological Service of Jamaica Evan Thompson said that when Beryl passes as a Category 2 hurricane, as predicted, its “extremely dangerous winds could cause extensive damage”.

“It’s nothing to scoff at; it’s nothing to be complacent about because it is still a serious and dangerous situation,” he said.

Thompson said the key messages that have been promoted by the Regional Meteorological Centre is that Beryl is expected to remain powerful while moving right through the central and north-western Caribbean.

“Jamaica is expected to anticipate the hazards that are related to hurricanes — that includes very heavy rainfall, it includes very strong winds, it also includes devastating storm surge. And what is most critical in this case is that the activity would come up along our southern coastline if the centre of the system is off our coast to the south. Therefore any inlet, any bay along the southern coastline, is at risk of storm surge flooding,” Thompson said.

He pointed out that similar kinds of activity have occurred at Caribbean Terrace in the past with Hurricane Ivan, and also at Portland Cottage in Clarendon, and as such those communities and all other communities along the south coast would be at particular risk of storm surge flooding.

“Also, landslides are something that we need to be careful about as the system moves close. The rainfall anticipated during this event would be tremendous and so we must prepare ourselves for it,” he said.

On Monday afternoon, owner of Continental Weather Corporation and Jamaica Observer consultant meteorologist Alan Archer said the latest computer models “show that the centre of the hurricane is going to pass very close to the south shore of Jamaica at sunset on Wednesday”.

Archer also said that conditions in the central and western Caribbean could contribute to a further reduction in strength of the system.

Prime Minister Holness, meanwhile, implored Jamaicans in flood-prone areas to be prepared to evacuate.

“If you live, particularly, in low-lying areas starting from the most eastern end of the island — that would be anywhere in Portland and St Thomas, coming up to the Manchioneal area, coming all the way around — if you are in areas in East Rural St Andrew… please, you’re going to be impacted so take the necessary steps. I cannot implore you more than I am doing now. I’m encouraging you, please take the necessary steps,” Holness said.

He said heeding this warning is crucial as both Jamaica Public Service and the fire brigade have advised that, at some point in time, their services will not be available.

“Meaning that, for evacuations, for health responses, for emergency services, we may not have aircraft, boats, fire trucks because those things may have to be secured during the hurricane. So this means that, as citizens, you have to look at the threat to your immediate environment and make the right decision about evacuation,” he said,

“It is always a sensitive and touchy subject. I quite well understand: People don’t want to leave their property; they worry about security. But the most important thing is your life. So I would encourage you, please, emergency services would not be able to operate in the heights of the hurricane, and even just before, and there may be even a delay after. So we encourage you, please secure yourself by moving to higher ground, moving to safer ground,” he added.

Holness noted, however, that the Government is not yet contemplating any curfews or limitation on movements. “But, as we get closer to the time and we are able to assess the intensity of the hurricane, then we will make those decisions — and that will be communicated,” he said.

He stressed that citizens have been given enough notice to take the necessary precautions regarding Beryl’s impending impact, including securing adequate supply of food and water — most importantly drinking water and canned foods that can last for three days.

“You should also note that our electricity service, and eventually water, will go if the storm reaches a serious threshold — and this is a precautionary move by our utilities, in many respects, to ensure that there are no fires or serious damage to their equipment, and of course to preserve our water supply in many instances,” he said, adding that citizens should ensure they have some form of light
— flashlights, candles, or lamps — and exercise caution with open flames.

He also cautioned about the use of generators indoors, which can be dangerous because they emit an odourless and colourless gas
— carbon monoxide, “which could just easily wipe out an entire family” if it’s not dealt with properly.

“So if you have generators, make provisions for them to be outside or [ensure] there is provision for the exhaust to be moved out of the enclosed space,” he said while also advising residents to secure roofs and items outside the house that could become missiles during heavy winds.

Turning to the Government’s preparations, Holness said National Works Agency has been pre-mobilised to look at critical drains and gullies, “and we are trying to get the cleaning done as quickly as possible”.

Holness cautioned, however, that even if all the drains were to be cleaned it is still likely that several areas in Jamaica will be flooded, given that some existing drains do not have the capacity to carry off the downpour, “so we will have flooding, and that means that you have to protect your space so it means maybe sandbagging; it means making sure that if you are lower than the roadway you protect your entryways where water could come in”.

He said that the Government is also making the necessary arrangements to ensure that it is able to respond after the hurricane has passed.

“We are in touch with the commercial trade to ensure that we have sufficient stocks in place that persons can be able to at least have access to food and water after the hurricane has passed,” he said, adding that the country will have two weeks’ supply of fuel available.

“Our telecommunication services have been investing significantly in improving the resilience of their hard infrastructure, and we expect that they should stand up, but if there is any disruption or a break we are pursuing alternatives to ensure that we are still connected — particularly for government entities,” he said.

Minister of Local Government Desmond McKenzie said that, once given the green light, the 870 shelters across the country will be activated.

“Relief supplies have been already secured, our parish disaster coordinators are in a state of readiness, our shelter managers are also in a state of readiness,” he said.