With Jamaica placed on a hurricane warning leaders in two south-central parishes say final preparations are under way in anticipation of Hurricane Beryl.

Mayor of Black River Richard Solomon said the parish is in a state of readiness.

“We had an emergency disaster committee meeting where we meet with the relevant stakeholders for updates. All agencies are in a state of readiness. All our shelters, our shelter managers are in place. We have already deployed the necessary resources. We are now awaiting instructions from ODPEM (Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management) to activate our Emergency Operating Centre. We are in ready mode. We are just hoping for the best from here on,” he told the Jamaica Observer on Monday.

Solomon, who is also the councillor for the New Market Division, said his area is among those of concern as it is flood-prone.

Fisherfolk at Alligator Pond, Manchester pulling in a boat on Monday as they prepare for Hurricane Beryl.

“It can become flooded based on the extent of the rainfall. We have the low-lying areas like Pedro Cross, Parottee, Luana, New River that can become flooded,” he said.

Disaster coordinator for St Elizabeth Ornella Lewis said there are 87 shelters in the parish on standby.

“We are in high gear to activate our Emergency Operations Centre at the Black River Fire Station. We are [paying attention] to areas prone to flooding like Brompton, Middle Quarters, Goshen, Lititz, Bull Savannah. We are doing final touches to some of our community centre shelters,” she explained.

In the neighbouring parish of Manchester, Mayor of Mandeville Donovan Mitchell said preparations are advancing.

SOLOMON… we have the low lying areas like Pedro Cross, Parottee, Luana, New River that can become flooded.

“We are about 95 per cent prepared. We have standby equipment ready. Our major [parochial] drains have been cleaned. We have made sure that our residents at the infirmary are in good hands and making sure that there is a standby generator for them just in case the power goes. Most of the preparations are done,” he said.

Fisherfolk in Alligator Pond near the Manchester/St Elizabeth border on Monday afternoon were observed pulling in boats as they prepared for the passage of Hurricane Beryl.

Disaster Coordinator for St Elizabeth Ornella Lewis