ST JAMES, Jamaica — Mayor of Montego Bay and Chairman of the St James Municipal Corporation, Councillor Richard Vernon, has officially activated the parish’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in response to the imminent threat posed by Hurricane Melissa.

In a release on Sunday, Vernon emphasised the importance of swift coordination among stakeholders and first responders to ensure timely dissemination of information and rapid mobilisation if necessary.

“From all indications, last Thursday’s meeting was very useful and fruitful,” he said, referring to the pre-hurricane EOC session held on October 23rd.

“We had in attendance members of the St James Municipal Corporation, the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the Jamaica Defence Force, the Ministry of Health, and other key stakeholders. We went through every aspect of preparation and mitigation examining pre- and post-hurricane activities and how, as a team, we will position the parish’s citizens, infrastructure and facilities before, during and after the hurricane,” he continued.

All approved hurricane shelters across St James have been fully supplied and ready. Special attention is being given to vulnerable groups, including residents of the St James Infirmary, the homeless, disabled and the registered poor.

“We have activated a shelter at Jarrett Park for members of the homeless community and will be providing transport to take them there,” Vernon shared. “We recently completed a survey to determine the number of homeless citizens in Montego Bay and will make a special effort to encourage and persuade them to utilise the shelter. The residents at the St James Infirmary will be fine, as caregivers will be on hand to attend to their needs.”

The Emergency Operations Committee will meet regularly to address emerging concerns and ensure proactive measures are implemented. Mayor Vernon acknowledged the anxiety among citizens but reassured the public of the corporation’s commitment to minimising the hurricane’s impact.

“We understand the high level of anxiety and fear among our citizens at this time. However, the St James Municipal Corporation and other state agencies will play their role to ensure that the anticipated damage from Hurricane Melissa is reduced based on our mitigative measures. We also have our teams on standby to respond in the aftermath,” Vernon said.