ST JAMES, Jamaica— Tourism Minister and Member of Parliament for St James East Central, Edmund Bartlett, says the parish’s mobile Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) has been instrumental in addressing a range of issues brought on by Hurricane Beryl.

“Reports of roads being blocked, electrical wires down, trees falling, and other potential dangers were reported in real time and were swiftly dealt with or recorded, as best as possible, preventing what might have been dire situations in the past,” the minister said.

Bartlett said that the collaborative and proactive efforts of the various agencies involved have ensured that responses to emerging threats have been coordinated, noting that by pooling resources and expertise, the EOC has been able to minimise the impact of the storm on the local community and infrastructure.

The minister noted that the mobile EOC was established to enhance coordination and preparedness for natural disasters.

Bartlett explained that it is a disaster management group, comprising 96 members from every relevant agency in Montego Bay and the wider St James, which was formed over the past year, enabling quick and effective responses to the challenges posed by “this storm or any other natural disaster”.

He said that as the storm continued to unfold (on July 3), the group remained on high alert, ready to adapt and respond to changing circumstances, noting that by maintaining a proactive and collaborative approach, the agencies were demonstrating their commitment to the safety and well-being of the local communities.

“The St James mobile EOC, even with the challenges and with things not moving sometimes as fast as everybody would have liked, has truly demonstrated its value during this crisis. [Its] quick actions and coordinated efforts truly made a significant difference in our ability to respond effectively to the challenges posed by the storm,” Bartlett added.

The St James mobile EOC includes representatives from the local municipality, government officials, emergency services, utilities, transportation, healthcare, media and other key sectors.

By bringing together expertise from a range of fields, the group was able to address a wide range of issues and ensured a response to the storm, Bartlett added.

For his part, Tourism Task Force Head, businessman John Byles, noted that with a bipartisan approach to disaster management, business interests and other stakeholders have all vowed to remain active and responsive to all eventualities.

“In addition to responding to immediate threats, we have also been working to mitigate the potential long-term impact of Hurricane Beryl. By implementing proactive measures, such as clearing drainage systems, reinforcing vulnerable infrastructure, and providing support to at-risk communities, our local network (agencies and private entities) is helping to build resilience and reduce the likelihood of future disasters,” Byles added.

-JIS