The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) as part of its Hurricane Preparedness Month activities for May 2013, hosted housing sector professionals in a day long forum at the Knutsford Court Hotel on Thursday May 16, 2013.

In this issue

• Memorandum of Understanding with UWI-SRC

• World Bank Implementation Completion and Results Report on CCRIF

• Work Programmes with Regional Organisations

• CCRIF Technical Assistance Programme

Period covered by this Ops Update: 13 November to 27 December 2012.
Appeal target (current): 1,211,693 Swiss francs in kind, cash or services.
Appeal coverage: 34%

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) ship Argus has broken off from drug-busting duties in the Caribbean to deliver disaster relief aid to Jamaica.

The aid delivered will help Jamaicans rebuild and repair more than 70 schools damaged last month by Hurricane Sandy.

Whilst the Jamaican authorities dealt with the immediate aftermath of the storm, which barrelled through the Caribbean and up the Eastern Seaboard of the USA one month ago causing widespread devastation in places, Argus was asked to help with the longer-term repair and rebuilding process.

By Lancelot McCalla

Following the destruction wrought upon the Caribbean by Hurricane Sandy, the Jamaica Red Cross, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labor and Social Security has continued to do door to door evaluations in the three most affected parishes, St. Thomas, St. Mary and Portland.

With more than 18,000 homes affected in the country, it is evident that the process of recovery will also be long and challenging. Beyond the figures, there are numerous individual human stories.

More than one thousand people marooned in communities in St. Thomas, since the passage of Hurricane Sandy, are reportedly without basic food supplies.

The residents of Epping Farm, Penline Castle, Minto, Hagley's Gap, Grass Piece, and Mahogany Vale are appealing to the authorities for assistance.

They told RJR News that the few shops serving the communities have run out of stock and there is no drinking water.

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Oct. 30, 2012) – Hurricane Sandy victims in Fruitful Vale and Norwich in Portland, Jamaica, were relieved when a caravan of containers and trucks maneuvered past downed power lines and debris to bring them emergency relief assistance on Sunday, Oct. 28. YB Afraid Foundation and Food For The Poor partnered to bring the critically needed supplies to approximately 700 people in urgent need of assistance.

HURRICANE SANDY – SITUATION REPORT #2 AS OF 2.00 P.M., SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27 2012

Message: Tropical Storm force winds continued to impact the Northern Commonwealth of the Bahamas on Saturday, October 27. Damage assessments and relief efforts ongoing in Jamaica and Haiti.

THE EVENT:
Hurricane Sandy, the 18th named storm of the 2012 Atlantic Hurricane Season has affected three of the CDEMA Participating States, Haiti, Jamaica and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.

NATURE OF EVENT:

Hurricane Sandy made landfall at approximately 2:00 p.m some 8km (5miles) east of Kingston. At 4:00 p.m about 20 km (12 miles) north of Port Antonio, Portland, or 40 kilometres (30 miles) north-northeast of Kingston. The island continues to experience up 80mph storm force winds mainly in central and eastern parishes.

SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS:

The forecast remains for 150 mm (6 inches) to 300 mm (12 inches) of rainfall on Wednesday. Flash flooding of low lying communities is still expected.

Storm Surges