Holness moves to strengthen prep for hurricane season
Published:Thursday | June 5, 2025 | 12:11 AMSashana Small/Staff Reporter
Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness says the Government is addressing gaps identified in the country’s storm response plans as it enters what has been forecast to be a very active hurricane season.
“We were spared the worst in our recent disaster, Hurricane Beryl, and being at the forefront of the response, I saw the gaps, I saw the potential threats,” Holness stated.
Experts have predicted a 60 per cent chance of an above-normal 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, with a range of 13-19 named storms. Of these, six to 10 are forecast to become hurricanes with winds of 74 miles per hour (mph) or higher, including three to five major hurricanes with winds of 111mph or higher.
Hurricane Beryl, a Category 4 storm, pummelled Jamaica in early July last year, causing extensive damage to properties and infrastructure, especially in the southwestern section of the island.
It damaged crops, lifted roofs, and left hundreds of citizens without power for weeks.
Speaking at a National Disaster Risk Management Council (NDRMC) meeting yesterday, Holness highlighted the impact of Hurricane Beryl and stated that it is imperative that the country further strengthen its institutions to mitigate the effect of any future storms.
“Our approach includes strengthening national institutions and legislations; investing in science, technology and early warning systems; building capacity at community level; aligning the national framework with climate resilience; and ensuring that disaster risk reduction is cross-cutting – touching education, housing, health, infrastructure, energy and the environment,” he said.
RESILIENT UTILITIES
He emphasised the importance of improving the resilience of the country’s utilities, and noted that the Jamaica Public Service Company had already started a comprehensive review of its distribution network to replace broken or damaged poles.
He stated that this work should be ongoing throughout the year and be done “with great speed and alacrity”.
The Government has also commenced work to provide an independent source of energy for key National Water Commission pumping stations, in the event of power outage during a hurricane, Holness disclosed.
He noted that the long-term plan is to ensure that those pumping stations that are critical areas for supply and distribution have backup generators or are powered by solar energy.
The damage caused to roofs underscored the need for hurricane straps, Holness contended. To this end, he said the municipalities have some work to do.
“The parish councils (municipal corporations), the approval entities and the Ministry of Local Government, through a national public campaign, must reinforce the building codes as it relates to roofs, and the need to build according to code, and use in particular hurricane straps to secure roofs,” he said.
Minister of Local Government Desmond McKenzie declared that the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) would continue the distribution of hurricane straps this year.
“The ODPEM initiated, last year, a hurricane strap programme, and we are expecting this year to do the same by providing, through the municipal corporations, a couple thousand hurricane straps,” he said.
McKenzie added: “As we prepare for this hurricane season, more than 900 shelters are being inspected and are ready.”
Holness also stated that the Government has been investing in the expansion of early warning systems, and collaborating with other regional entities. He shared that, with the help of the Japanese government, Jamaica now has a robust national disaster emergency telecommunication system and public safety network.
“These allow us to disseminate real-time alerts, mobilise response teams, and reach even our most remote communities in times of crisis,” he said.
And although he lauded the recovery of farmers from the impact of Hurricane Beryl, Holness, who chairs the NDRMC, acknowledged that the Government must strengthen its support, especially for those who utilise greenhouses.
He also stressed the need for greater investment in coastal protection, as the threat of sea level rising intensifies.
CENTRALISED DATABASE
He added that there was a need for a centralised database of citizens affected by the disaster, to prevent the duplication of aid distribution.
Holness outlined proactive steps taken by the Government to fortify Jamaica’s ability to respond to and recover from disasters. These include establishing a disaster recovery fund and a contingency fund.
The Government is also participating in, and has embarked on, other initiatives, such as the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility and the Catastrophe Bond.
Minister of Finance and the Public Service Fayval Williams noted that this National Natural Disaster Risk Financing Policy, which ensures financial flexibility to meet natural disasters, now stands at approximately $130.6 billion. The amount the Government can access will depend on the severity of the disaster, she said.
“An advantage of the catastrophe coverage we have in place is that it is parametric, meaning there are predefined thresholds, and predefined payouts,” she said.
The prime minister, in the meantime, urged citizens to safeguard their identification documents, so that in the event of a hurricane, they would be able to access aid.
“Preparedness is not just being able to conduct humanitarian exercises when a disaster hits. You have to now be prepared to deal with the energy crisis that could come, the trade crisis that could come, the impact on the economy in terms of inflation when goods get scarce, the citizen safety and security issues that could happen; all elements of any consideration as to the stability of the society.”