40 years of ODPEM

JAMAICA, BY virtue of its location and geographical make-up, is vulnerable to most kinds of disasters – both natural and man-made hazards. With the experience of devastation and the year-round potential for the occurrence of a disaster, it became necessary for the establishment of a local disaster preparedness and relief organisation.

Thus, in July 1980, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Relief Coordination was established. The name was later changed in 1993 to the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), under the Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management Act 1993, where the ODPEM was charged to coordinate emergency response and relief operations in major disaster events.

The Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management Act 1993 was repealed in 2015 and the Disaster Risk Management Act 2015 was enacted, in which the ODPEM is charged with the responsibility for taking action to reduce the impact of disasters and emergencies on the Jamaican population and economy.

In its 40 years of existence, the ODPEM has worked to protect Jamaicans and build the country’s disaster resilience through: • Conducting disaster preparedness and risk reduction training for journalists, health workers, vulnerable groups, businesses, schools and communities.

• Conducting business continuity and supply-chain management training.

• Conducting national simulation exercises to test disaster preparedness and response and disaster communication.

• The development of an earthquake road map; development and testing of a tsunami warning system; and

• The establishment of the National Disaster Risk Management Volunteer Programme for citizens to be trained in disaster risk management and response.

The ODPEM remains committed to leading the process of reducing the impact of disasters on Jamaica through Comprehensive Disaster Management.