Excerpt from The Jamaica Observer column published on Monday, September 26, 2022
By Jean Lowrie-Chin
As I write, we are monitoring the track of tropical storm Ian as it moves closer to Jamaica, on its way to becoming a hurricane. The strengthening is due to the warming of the Caribbean Sea, through no fault of our own. Our little Jamaica has introduced climate-friendly measures which are still not enforced in some developed countries. Here we are with our neighbours in the Lesser and Greater Antilles, the sitting ducks of climate change, my description of SIDS (small island developing states), at the mercy of the big and powerful.
Up to late Friday evening, we received notices of Emergency contacts in each parish from ODPEM, and guidelines from the Ministry of Health. Minister of Local Government Desmond McKenzie reported that 900 shelters and shelter managers were on standby and that ODPEM was made operational day and night.
The Jamaica Public Service sent an advisory on the necessity for an islandwide power outage if the storm comes close. Much as we criticise the JPS, we have to be thankful that we have a resilient power supply in contrast to Puerto Rico which is again suffering power failure from Hurricane Fiona, after their ordeal with Hurricane Maria five years ago. The National Works Agency (NWA) has also advised that they have placed equipment in vulnerable locations for quick response if needed after the storm.
We are expecting between eight and ten inches of rainfall, which may cause dangerous flooding. Over the past weekend, with appeals from the PM and arrangements by his ministers and essential organisations, we are reassured that our public servants are doing their best to keep us safe from the storm.
Jamaica Highlights 