KINGSTON, Jamaica—Shelters across Jamaica are to be improved as the Government moves to strengthen national disaster preparedness ahead of the upcoming 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

Minister of Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie said the condition and readiness of emergency shelters are now at the top of the agenda.

Addressing journalists during a visit to view work being done on the new infirmary in Falmouth, Trelawny, on Thursday, January 15, he noted that many facilities were compromised during the passage of Hurricane Melissa in October last year.

The minister said that with the next hurricane season only months away, it signals an urgent shift towards improving the quality, safety and suitability of shelters islandwide.

“I am planning, within another two weeks, to convene a meeting with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Social Development Commission (SDC) and the municipal corporations to have an extensive look at shelters,” he noted.

McKenzie outlined that the discussions would focus on identifying which structures remain viable as well as determining what repairs or replacements are necessary.

“The SDC would have completed a survey islandwide of community centres, and we are going to be looking at the community centres that can be converted, that we can remodel, to turn those into shelters,” he continued.

He said that the experience during Hurricane Melissa exposed serious weaknesses in the current shelter system, and it is clear that the country cannot continue relying on outdated arrangements.

In the meantime, the ministry has completed its assessment of damage sustained by municipal corporations and other critical infrastructure, such as markets and cemeteries across the country.

McKenzie indicated that a submission is expected to be taken to Cabinet to outline the full scope of repairs and upgrades required, noting that a substantial budget will be needed to address the scale of damage and strengthen municipal infrastructure nationwide.

-JIS