Building community resilience

THE MISSION of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is to lead the process of reducing the impact of disasters on Jamaica through comprehensive disaster management. This is the beginning of the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season, which began on June 1, 2018 and ends on November 30, 2018. The theme for this year is ‘Building community resilience’, which represents the ODPEM’s focus on community involvement and capacity building to increase coping mechanisms.

Forecasters have indicated that this will be an active season with 10-16 tropical storms, between five and nine of which are forecast to develop into hurricanes, and up to four of them major hurricanes. The Meteorological Service of Jamaica endorses that this forecast has 70 per cent reliability. Researchers also say that this will be an aboveaverage season and storms are developing more rapidly than they did 30 years ago.

The effects of climate variability and change on meteorological hazards associated with climate change call for advancing resilience at the local level. The 2017 hurricane season has served as a stark reminder of the devastating effect that the impact of natural hazards can have on the infrastructure, environment and on society.

The agency recognises the financial strain on the Government due to the cost associated with preparing and recovering from a disaster. There are implementation of specific mitigation measures to reduce the impact on the Jamaican economy and population.

As the chair, I fully support the preventative and response methods of the organisation and stand with our dedicated staff and partners as they advocate for Jamaicans to be aware, prepared and ready for any severe weather system that may affect us.

The goal for this hurricane season is focused on building community resilience through forward thinking and planning. The agency is committed to strengthening response mechanisms by advancing disaster risk reduction through mitigation and rehearsed preparation. Be vigilant in your hurricane preparations, have a family disaster plan, and please heed the warning of the Metrological Service of Jamaica and the ODPEM. JOY DOUGLAS Chairman ODPEM Board of Management