The Government has allocated more than $800 million for hurricane preparedness as the nation
approaches what is forecast to be a very active season.

In a statement to the House of Representatives on Tuesday, minister with responsibility for works Robert Morgan pointed to the impact of Hurricane Beryl, Tropical Storm Rafael, and the relentless rainfall which hit the island last year, causing severe damage.

He told the House that this year the Government is taking no chances.

“We are preparing early and acting fast,” declared Morgan as he reported that the forecast is for 19 named storms, nine hurricanes, and at least four major hurricanes — Category 3 and above — during the Atlantic Hurricane Season which begins on June 1 and ends on November 30.

“Last year, we started the hurricane season with $102 million allocated for mitigation. This year, we are increasing that amount significantly. This year, we will be spending $172 million directly to constituencies. This means the allocation to each constituency has, on average, been doubled,” said Morgan in a prepared text shared with the media.

“We are investing $300 million to carry out essential work on the Sandy Gully in Kingston and St Andrew. We are putting $100 million into the North and South gullies in Montego Bay. In St Catherine, we’re allocating $30 million for work in the Bog Walk Gorge, another $30 million is going toward drainage improvements along Dyke Road [and] we are dedicating $200 million to additional mitigation works along the South Coast, which has seen repeated flooding and damage in recent years,” Morgan said.

“This is not business as usual. These are targeted interventions in areas where we know the risks are high,” declared Morgan.

He pointed out that the National Works Agency (NWA) will again lead the execution of the hurricane preparedness programme, and has already started the process by engaging contractors, identifying key locations to pre-position equipment. and “we are also dealing with the communication issues we had last year so we can respond even more efficiently this time around”.

According to Morgan, over the next two weeks, the NWA will continue ramping up its response so everything is in place before the season peaks.

The works minister issued a call for all Members of Parliament to work together quickly and responsibly to protect communities across the island.

“This is about more than cleaning drains or spending money, it is about saving lives, it is about safeguarding livelihoods, it is about ensuring that when the rain comes — and it will — we are not caught off guard.

“With increased funding, better planning, and greater urgency this year, Jamaica is in a stronger position to face the hurricane season ahead,” added Morgan.

The United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will issue its outlook for the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season during a news conference on Thursday.

Speakers will announce the anticipated activity for the season, factors that may influence hurricane development, and provide advice for how the public can prepare for the season.