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August 27, 2008
Jamaica prepares for destructive Gustav
Disaster Response Preparedness has swung into high gear as Gustav veers towards the North Coast of Jamaica.
Government is bracing for the possibilities of a national emergency, with all parish emergency operation centres being put on high alert by this morning.
Taking no chances, Jamaica acted briskly after Haiti was hit hard by Gustav in the southern regions yesterday, killing at least one man and posing a serious threat to crops in a time of protests over high food prices. Bringing down trees and flooding fields of banana, beans and vegetables, the category 1 storm was particularly devastating in the deforested southern peninsula of Haiti as hundreds ignored storm warnings and instead of seeking shelter, continued rock throwing and protesting the high cost of living. A landslide killed the storm’s only reported victim.
As Gustav belted Haiti, not only did its already ailing agricultural industry suffer severely, but oil prices also rose immediately as meteorologists predict the storm will raise to a category 3 hurricane and enter the Gulf of Mexico by weeks end.
Prime Minister Golding is being extremely cautious; this being the first major storm on ‘his watch’ and he called a meeting with the National Disaster Committee yesterday. While Gustav is not expected to hit Jamaica directly, Golding is cognizant of hurricanes’ tendencies to suddenly change course, so special attention is being paid to the flood prone areas of the north coast. Golding was reported as saying, "Let’s not be careless…don’t take this one lightly."
While getting ready for the hurricane season, the National Works Agency, cleared many drains and carried out other improvements.
Fishers on cays and banks have been advised to take precautions and hurricane preparedness stresses the following:
Assign roles/responsibilities for hurricane preparedness and evacuation to each member of the household long before actual storm.
Establish an evacuation plan and map out exit strategy and route.
Review emergency plans monthly.
Ensure all doors and windows are properly secured to make break-ins difficult.
Alert parish disaster coordinator and police when evacuating premises.
Place furniture on raised platform, e.g. building blocks, to prevent flood damage.
If not carrying all important documents, such as passports and ID cards, lock them in a watertight container