The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is coordinating an assessment of Portland in building resilience in the parish.This follows a period of drought in the parish which is said to have negatively impacted infrastructure and productivity.
Jamaica’s vulnerability to Natural Disasters including hurricanes, earthquakes and drought is impacting the country’s room for growth and development. It is for this reason that ODPEM is working on a plan to combat the effects on the country, particularly portland which is bearing the blunt of a hazard.
Jamaica has suffered large economic losses as a result of such natural disasters. ODPEM’s mitigation programme officer, Sheldon Grant says with warmer days and warmer nights due to the changing rainfall patterns, the rural parish will require intense intervention.
Grant notes that ODPEM is now focused on proactiveness and enforcing transformative strategies to handle hazards in the island.He was speaking at a town hall meeting on disaster resilience in Portland.
KHADIJAH THOMAS
