KINGSTON, Jamaica— About 31 people sought safe haven in shelters which were opened across the island to accommodate individuals affected by the passage of Tropical Storm Rafael, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has disclosed.

ODPEM’s Acting Director General, Richard Thompson told Observer Online on Tuesday that shelters have been opened in six parishes – St Elizabeth, Clarendon, Westmoreland, St Thomas, and Kingston and St Andrew.

It is anticipated however, that additional shelters may have to be opened to take in more people as flooding from the lingering rains associated with the system continue to affect the island, even as it continues to move away.

The  Meteorological Service of Jamaica in an update on  social media platform X on Tuesday evening said spiral bands associated with Tropical Storm Rafael continue to produce periods of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms over Jamaica.

The Meteorological Service also issued a flash flood warning for Westmoreland, St Elizabeth, Manchester, Clarendon, St Catherine, Kingston, St Andrew and St Thomas until 5:00 pm on Wednesday, November 6. This means that flash flooding has been reported or will occur shortly.

Thompson said all the shelter managers across the island have been placed on standby from Sunday and the shelters are activated based on what is happening in the local space.

“As the situation probably worsens in the local space, those shelters may come on-stream in terms of their activation, but all shelters across the country [are on alert],” he said.

In an earlier release from the Jamaica Information Service, Thompson had noted that individuals are going to the shelters out of caution.

“I think about five persons out of the eight [at Rocky Point] are a carryover from Hurricane Beryl, and for the others, most are moving out of caution,” he said.

He also reminded residents who may be making their way to shelters to take essential supplies.

“For persons who are on medication, bring those; persons who are moving with babies, you normally bring baby formula. We also say to persons, as best as possible, carry some food supplies with you, non-perishables, crackers and those things, if you have, to tide you over until the system can be triggered [to provide supplies]. If you’re going beyond two to three days, which we don’t foresee, based on what is happening, then the system will [be triggered] to provide food supplies,” Thompson said.

He noted that pets are not allowed in shelters, and people are advised to provide a safe location for the animals before moving into shelters.