KINGSTON, Jamaica — Mayor of Kingston Andrew Swaby says the municipality has intensified its efforts to relocate homeless people to shelters as Jamaica braces for the impact of Hurricane Melissa.

“Well, since morning we have asked some of the persons, the homeless persons on King Street and carried them into the shelters, about 15 of them. We have taken them into the shelter at Church Street. And about three females we have taken to the shelter at 65 Hanover Street. And we have been processing them. They’ll be having a bath, they’ll be given some clothes and they’ll get some food,” Swaby told Observer Online.

He said a total of 17 people have so far been taken into shelters across Kingston and St Andrew prior to Sunday’s efforts to relocate them.

Swaby also highlighted concerns for residents living in low-lying, flood-prone areas, including sections of Rae Town, McKinley Street, Charlotte Street and Tower Street.

“There are sections of Rae Town area, the eastern side of Southside, that’s McKinley Street, Charlotte Street and Tower Street, that we believe are prone to flooding… So what we have said to the residents, we have asked the police to go in and talk to the residents, make the announcement and ask them to move to the Holy Family School,” he said.

The mayor said buses are scheduled to enter those communities at 1:00 pm to assist with relocation.

Meanwhile, Swaby said seven people had registered at the national shelter at the National Arena Sunday morning. He said the arena’s upper level is being reserved for residents of Port Royal, which he is also expected to visit as part of storm preparations.

Cleanup activities are also now underway in markets across the Corporate Area to prevent waste from worsening flooding conditions.