KINGSTON, Jamaica — Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Commander Alvin Gayle, says emergency personnel now have access to all communities following the widespread impact of Hurricane Melissa.

“No community in Jamaica remains marooned,” he said, noting that “for us, being marooned means that the only way to enter that community is via air”.

“There are portions of communities across Jamaica which, because of flooding and/or land slippage, might remain inaccessible within the communities, but no community today remains inaccessible to us.”

Gayle was addressing a virtual town hall on Tuesday hosted by the Jamaican Embassy in Washington DC to give an update on Hurricane Melissa recovery.

He informed that just about 33 thoroughfares across Jamaica remain blocked, and the National Works Agency (NWA) continues its work to clear those areas.

Emergency response teams are continuing efforts to restore infrastructure and deliver relief items and services, nearly four weeks after Hurricane Melissa impacted the island.

— JIS