ODPEM Always Prepared for Disasters – Director General

Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Major Clive Davis, is assuring citizens that the agency is always in a high state of readiness to respond to disasters.

“The ODPEM is ready to face all adversities,” he said.

“We have a mandate to keep the nation in a perpetual state of readiness. This is a process that involves knowing the vulnerabilities, knowing what the nation could face and putting provisions in place to deal with those vulnerabilities, keeping the population informed, and the ongoing stocking and restocking process,” Major Davis noted further.

He was speaking at the launch of Disaster Preparedness Month and the start of the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season at Jamaica House on June 1.

The ODPEM Director General said the preparedness measures include ongoing public education, and disaster preparedness and management training for schools, communities, churches and places of work; simulation exercises and specialised training for first responders; mitigation studies; updating response and contingency plans; and improving the agency’s internal operations.

Major Davis said the public education and sensitisation measures are working, and persons, particularly those living in vulnerable communities, are heeding the warnings and taking action to protect their lives and property.

The ODPEM head also praised media partners for their role in passing on vital early warning tips to the public, which has enabled them to take affirmative action and avoid major human catastrophes.

The 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season started on June 1 and runs till November 30.

Forecasters are predicting an above-normal season with five to nine hurricanes, two to four of them Category 3 or stronger.

The forecast calls for 11 to 17 tropical systems.

Article by: Rodger Hutchinson
Photo from: www.jis.gov.jm