ST MARY, Jamaica — Councillor Daedre Moulton of the Jamaica Labour Party says efforts are underway to clear critical drains across St Mary Western as part of flood mitigation works being carried out by the National Works Agency (NWA).

“We are here with National Work Agency partnering with the member of parliament to have the critical drains within the division and the constituency at large clean [to prevent] flooding hazardous things that can happen as a result of the rain and winds that we are suspecting,” explained Moulton to Observer Online Friday.

She shared that focus will be placed on both “major” and “minor” drains, including those in Content, Rio Nuevo, Emerald Estate, Jamaica Beach, Prospect, Dry Gully and “Bruk Weh.”

In terms of disaster preparedness, Moulton acknowledged that there are limits to how much can be done ahead of a storm.

“In reality we can never be prepared because no one wants what we are predicting,” she said. However, she urged residents to take precautions and assured them that “in the event that help is needed then we will get to you in a timely and efficient way.”

Meanwhile, Member of Parliament for St Mary Central, Omar Newell, also joined the NWA teams on the ground Friday as they worked to clear debris from major drains ahead of the approaching weather system, Melissa.

Newell described the work as “late mitigation work,” noting, “We are getting as many drains as we can cleaned. The National Works Agency is out, they have engaged contractors to start doing as much as they can.”

He added that the NWA could benefit from additional funding as the storm is projected to become more severe and said he would be speaking with Minister without Portfolio for Works, Robert Nesta Morgan, about securing extra resources.

Among the areas where work has started are the main drain in Pagee, as well as drains in Moncrieffe, Hillside Primary, Gully Road and other parts of the constituency.

While noting that some long- standing drainage issues remain, Newell expressed satisfaction with the current efforts.

“Considering how late these allocations were made I am pleased with the work that the works agency has done,” he said.