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The
island of Jamaica is mainly susceptible to hurricanes, floods,
droughts, earthquakes and landslides.
The two most recent major hurricanes were Gilbert, a Category
3 storm, in 1988, and Hurricane Ivan, Category 4, in September
2004. The eye of Hurricane Ivan past 30 miles south of Jamaica,
therefore significantly reducing the anticipated impact on the
country and its capital Kingston. Preparedness measures evacuated
up to 150,000 people from potential danger zones. Nevertheless,
14 people were killed and communities, infrastructure, the environment
and the agricultural sector were severely affected. In some
communities, running water was hardly available for a period
of up to two months. At the end of October 2004, the Jamaican
government created the Office of National Reconstruction (ONR),
which to date has been unable to acquire sufficient funds for
restoring the most affected areas of the country. However, funds
for the relocation of two of the most badly affected communities
have been identified and these plans are now in progress.
Floods can occur at any time, but are most
often associated with hurricanes or depressions. Low-lying
plains as well as closed limestone valleys are most at risk.
Flood rains often trigger landslides.
Droughts are a regular occurrence, especially on the South
Coast where there is very little rainfall and agriculture
depends on pumped water.
The two largest earthquakes on record took
place in 1692 and 1907. Earthquake activity is being monitored
by a series of seismographs and accelerographs which are operated
by the Earthquake Unit of the University of the West Indies
at Mona.
All actors and organisations involved in national
disaster management efforts are jointly referred to as National
Emergency Management Organisation. It consists of the National
Disaster Committee, the National Disaster Executive, the Office
of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM),
private sector representatives and several regional and local
organisations, non-governmental organisations and volunteers.
The National Disaster Committee is responsible for policy.
A Draft National Hazard Mitigation Policy
has been developed and is expected to be completed in the
near future. The Disaster Preparedness Act (1993) has been
in force since 1993. A building code has existed since the
1950s. It has not passed into law but is currently being reviewed
and updated. Hazard mapping for floods, landslides and earthquakes
has been done and flood risk mapping is taking place.
There
are various initiatives on disaster risk information management
systems and national public awareness programmes. Disaster
management is a part of various curricula and training programs
are available at the undergraduate and postgraduate level.
The University of the West Indies has elaborate research and
training programs on various areas related to disaster reduction.
The mass media and well-known personalities are involved in
public awareness campaigns, with specific weeks dedicated
to earthquake awareness and disaster risk reduction in schools
and businesses and a specific month dedicated to disaster
preparedness. Several civil society initiatives have taken
shape during recent years, showing an increase not only in
public awareness but also in public participation in disaster
reduction.
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