Hurricane Elsa continues to move across eastern Caribbean Sea, says PM Holness

For that, the Office of Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Management – ODPEM informed the people that the Metrological Service – Met of Jamaica has announced that a Hurricane warning is now in effect for Jamaica.

The Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness, said, “Hurricane Elsa continues to move quickly across the eastern Caribbean Sea. The Meteorological Service remains the hurricane warning for Jamaica. Preparation has been the key to maintaining these natural occurrences. I request everyone to adhere to the following procedures.”

The ODPEM has alerted all the agencies and Parish Disaster committees while the emergency managers, responders & volunteers are being placed on standby in case the circumstance gets worse.

Tropical storm Elsa is now has converted a Hurricane of the 1st category and soon would get into the 2nd category of hurricanes.

The official press release statement further remarks that the Parish Shelter Mechanism and Parish Emergency Operation Centres have been activated, including the requisite staff, is carrying out final emergency preparations.

ODPEM remarked in the press release states that the Shelters have also been activated in accordance with the coronavirus protocols & prevention measures.

It noted the small craft operators, including fishers from the cays and banks, to settle in the safe harbour until all alert messages are lifted, and wind and sea situations turned to normal.

ODPEM has urged the people to keep updated on the radios for additional advisories & avoid the areas at risk from flooding, storm surges, also landslides.

People are requested to take the following precautions-

• The citizens must evacuate if they stay in flood-prone areas, specifically the eastern and northeastern regions of the island.
• They must decide likely evacuation routes.

• The citizens must bypass the flooded waterways such as – fordings, gullies, streams, rivers.
• The residents should turn off the electrical power, water & gas supplies in the regions which are in direct danger for flooding.

ODPEM further given helpline numbers for the citizens at –

• landlines – 876-906-9674-5, 876-754-9077-8.
• digicel lines – 876-618-5640, 876-618-5637-9.
• toll-free lines – 1-888-225-5637.

The ODPEM has affirmed that it and the MET service would remain to monitor the system & give the information to the citizens.