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hurricane dean

Last update: May 13, 2008 - 06:47am

Hurricane Dean aftermath

On Sunday, August 19, 2007 Jamaica was hit by hurricane Dean, at that moment a category 4 hurricane. Althought the eye of Dean did not make landfall to Jamaica, it passed Jamaica's south coast very near, with all its consequences.
On Monday many Jamaicans awoke to scenes of destruction in the aftermath of the hurricane.

August 20, 2007: PM declares state of emergency
At Monday, August 20 Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller of Jamaica has declared state of public emergency for at least one month. Under the decree, the security forces are given wider powers to deal with criminal elements.

[read statement]

For more info on Dean in Jamaica, check these links:

The National Hurricane Center keeps you up-to-date on Caribbean weather and has lots of info about hurricanes in the past.

Radio station Power 106 FM is an excellent way to get the latest news on hurricanes in Jamaica. At 106 FM or at the Internet at http://www.go-jamaica.com/power/index.html.

Check also the Go-Jamaica Hurricane Dean Storm Blog with more articles and images on Dean in Jamaica. See http://www.go-jamaica.com/blog/.

For more up-to-date national and local news on Dean check the Jamaica Gleaner Online or the Jamaica Observer Online.

At Jamaicans.com at special 'hurricane area' has been created to post info and images on Dean. Information about how to help or how to find family or friends also can be found here.

This map by AlertNet.org gives you an impression of the damage island wide and in specific parishes as it is reported so far. [view map]

Tell us your story on Hurricane Dean!
You may post all info on Dean here, inquires about people or areas affected by Dean are also allowed.

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Posted comments (7)

1 Dean foto's
Written by Rudy Nelson, on 08-29-2007 07:25

More foto's on Dean:

http://picasaweb.google.com

http://photos.jamaicans.com/

2 ODPEM Newsletter 17
Written by Rudy Nelson, on 08-22-2007 19:54
OFFICE OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

ISSUED ON: Tuesday, August 21, 2007 at 6:45 p.m.

RESTORATION OF CONTRY’S ELECTRICITY POST-HURRICANE DEAN

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has been advised by the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPSCo.) that it is committed to restoring electricity to most of its customers by the end of the week. Phased restoration has commenced, starting with essential services such as hospitals, airports etc.

Areas likely to receive power supply today, August 21 are:

1. Kingston & St. Andrew: West Kings House Road, New Kingston, essential services and customers within close vicinity of Children’s hospital, National Chest Hospital, University Hospital.
2. St. James: Rose Hall, Coral Gardens, Ironshore, Whitehouse, Flankers, Lilliput.
3. Hanover: Negril and surrounding areas
4. Trelawny: Falmouth, Duncans and surrounding areas

As damage assessment continues, the JPSCo. will be better able to give an indication of full restoration.

Meanwhile, the ODPEM urges the public:
1. Do not touch loose, dangling or fallen power lines or try to move it yourself. You could be electrocuted if the line is still energized. Report these immediately to the JPSCo. or contact the police.
1. Do not burn debris under power lines.
2. If using a portable generator, plug appliances directly into the generator. Use extension cords where necessary. Place the portable generator outside the house so the generator gets proper ventilation. Always turn off the generator when refueling.

Members of the public are also urged to desist from any activities that may hinder the work of the JPSCo. in restoring the country’s power supply.

3 More images
Written by Phill, on 08-22-2007 07:46

Found some more images at:http://news.bbc.co.uk/

Courtesy of BBC

Click here for more

4 ODPEM Newsletter 18
Written by Rudy Nelson, on 08-22-2007 07:39
OFFICE OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

ISSUED ON: Tuesday, August 21, 2007 at 7:15 p.m.

POST-HURRICANE DEAN CLEAN-UP ACTIVITIES CONTINUES

The following are current reports from the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) of the impact of Hurricane Dean on Jamaica:

Casualties

To date the ODPEM has confirmed that two persons died as a result of Hurricane Dean:

- One person died in Clarendon as a result of injuries sustained from a collapsed roof.
- A 14-year-old girl from Whitehorses, St. Thomas, died from injuries sustained from rock damage to her home.

Blocked Roads

The National Works Agency (NWA) is reporting that Hurricane Dean affected a total of 248 roads.

In the Kingston Metropolitan Region (KMR) 10 roads are blocked, including one that is flooded and one reduced to single lane traffic:

- St. Andrew: 14 road sections blocked (East Rural/Papine Gordon Town)
- St. Catherine: 43 roads blocked and eight reduced to single lane traffic.

In the Western Region (St. James, Hanover, Westmoreland, Hanover and Trelawny) eight roads blocked while another eight roads reduced to single lane traffic.

In the Northeastern region 110 roads were affected while 39 were fully blocked.

Cleared Roads

- Kingston: six cleared, including Camp Road and Harbour View to the Norman Manley International Airport.

- St. Andrew: 18 cleared single-lane; one fully cleared

- St. Catherine: 2 cleared.

Cellular Communication

Cellular communication remains down in sections of St. Elizabeth, Manchester, Clarendon and sections of Trelawny and St. Thomas. Digicel continues to work on realigning antennas in affected parishes and refuel power generators.

Airports

Both international airports – Norman Manley International Airport and Donald Sangster International Airport - are now operational. Norman Manley International Airport is now accessible.

Health

The Ministry of Health, through their Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), continues to monitor the health sector across the island. There have been preliminary reports of damage to health facilities.

Shelter Updates

A total of 167 shelters are now opened across the island, housing some 3,478 persons. This number is expected to decrease as persons return to their respective homes.

The ODPEM will continue to provide the country with further updates as they become available

5 Some images
Written by JamDown, on 08-21-2007 18:46
Found on http://www.imagestation.com

6 Diaspora calls for overseas Jamaicans...
Written by Peter Greens, on 08-21-2007 13:20

Diaspora calls for overseas Jamaicans to help Dean relief

The Southern United States chapter of the Jamaican Diaspora together with the Jamaica Consulate General are coordinating emergency preparations for Jamaica in light of Hurricane Dean now approaching the Western Caribbean region.

Several drop off points have been set up at designated churches and central points of community contact have been identified, including the following:

SOUTH FLORIDA

Holy Family Episcopal Church
18501 NW 7th Avenue, Miami Gardens, FL
305-652-6797

Kendall Community Church of God
8795 SW 112 ST. , Kendall-Miami, FL
(305) 274-3072

Holy Sacrament Episcopal Church
2801 N University Dr, Hollywood -Pembroke Pines, FL
(954) 432-8686

Palm Beaches-Treasure Coast
United Sports & Social Club - Junior Farquharson
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ; 561-723-3605

CENTRAL FLORIDA

Quick Ship Caribbean Services
2153 W. Colonial Dr. (In the Magic Mall)
Orlando, Fl. 32804
Tel: (407) 999-9501

FiWe Caribbean Cuisine,
6601 Old Winter Garden Rd.
Orlando, Florida
(corner of Hiawassee Rd. & Old Winter Garden Rd (by Walgreens)
Tel: (407) 293-6393

ARIZONA/NEW MEXICO/TEXAS
Jamaica Foundation of Houston - Andy Adams
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
E-Mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Telephone: 713-772-4456

ARKANSAS/OKLAHOMA/TENNESSEE
Jamaican Diaspora Tennessee - Janeth Simpson-Brown
615 -0595-1454
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

GEORGIA
United For Jamaica - Jason Walker
Website: http://www.unitedforjamaica.org
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Phone: 404-533-1248

Atlanta Jamaican Association - Allan Alberga
407-523-6300
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

CAROLINAS
Jamaica National Assoc. - Ms. Jennifer Edwards
336-643-5813
8003 Goldenrod Drive
Greensboro, NC 27455

In the interim, persons interested in making donations can make checks payable to the Jamaica Consulate General (Hurricane Relief) and mailed to the office at 25 Southeast Second Avenue, Suite 609, Miami, FL 33131.

Donations of any items should include a list of critically needed items such as non-perishable food items, batteries, flashlights, first aid kits, battery operated radios and bottled water.

For further information, persons can call the Consulate office at 305-374-8431, extensions 223 and 232.

Diaspora Advisory Board member, Marlon Hill, has urged other Jamaican communities as well as members of community organisatons throughout the Diaspora to be on the alert in their specific communities to collaborate effectively as preparations are coordinated.

To contact other local Jamaican Diaspora resources and organizations, inquiries or recommendations of all collective resources, please call:

Marlon A. Hill, Esq.
Advisory Board Member
Jamaican Diaspora Southern United States
305-244-4456 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

7 Official note of the Office of Disaster
Written by Rudy Nelson, on 08-21-2007 00:57
OFFICE OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

ISSUED ON: Monday, August 20, 2007 at 6:00pm

HURRICANE WARNING LIFTED FOR THE ISLAND

The Hurricane warning was lifted for the island of Jamaica at 10:00am by the Meteorological Service. In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Dean the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) reports that, regrettably, two persons were confirmed dead from the parishes of Clarendon and St. Thomas.

BLOCKED ROADWAYS
A number of blocked roads have been reported from the Kingston Metropolitan Area, Western and Northeastern sections of the island, details of which are as follows:

Westmoreland:
• Single lane traffic from Bogue to Content
• Hopeton to Auchin Town blocked
• Chestercastle to Jacksongate (Westmoreland end) blocked
• Single lane traffic in the Three Miles area

St. James:
• Anchovy to Mount Honeb is impassable and the Richmond route is reduced to single lane traffic.
• Downed JPS wires from Chestercastle to Jacksongate (Hanover end)

Trelawny:
Single lane traffic from:
• Rock to Steer Town
• Falmouth to Springvale
• Martha Brae to Kinloss

Work is currently in progress to clear all blocked roads from:
• Rio Bueno to Jackson Town
• Duncans to Long Pond
• Salt Marsh to Kent
• Hamdem to Wakefield
• Deeside to Drumily

Portland:
• All main roads have been cleared except roadways from Muirton to Fair Prospect and Hector’s River to Muirton in Buff Bay.

St. Catherine:
• The Bog Walk area and roads from Ewarton to Mount Diablo are open to single lane traffic.
St. Ann
Single lane traffic:
• From Priory to Bamboo
• Hopewell to Ocho Rios
• Green Park to St. Ann’s Bay
• Milford to Parry Town
• Brown’s Town to Bamboo
• Brown’s Town to Alexandria
• Moneague to Blackstonedge

SHELTERS:
Earlier today 268 shelters remained open across the island, housing some 6,445 persons. This number is expected to decrease as persons return to their respective homes.

AIRPORTS:
The roadway leading to the Norman Manley airport is now open to single lane traffic and the airport is currently accommodating emergency flights only. Full operations should resume tomorrow. At the other end of the island, the Donald Sangster Airport has re-opened to the public.

COORDINATION OF RELIEF SUPPLIES:
The National Welfare Sub-committee has met and is seeking to establish registration centres for the impacted communities. These registration centres will be located at Seven-Day Adventist Churches island-wide and other soon to be named locations. Emergency distribution of critical relief supplies has commenced and is being coordinated through the Parish Disaster Committee.

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