Barbara Carby - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
THE OFFICE of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is urging citizens associations in Portmore and adjoining areas to discuss the importance of emergency evacuation at their meetings.
In a letter to the All Hellshire Leadership Council, Dr. Barbara Carby, director-general of ODPEM, said the matter of evacuating Portmore for storm-surge-related flooding has regained national importance. This move follows the tragic events in New Orleans in September, when Hurricane Katrina ripped through the state, killing hundreds and damaging thousands of houses.
Dr. Carby said that experience has shown that a majority of residents in Portmore are reluctant to leave their homes, because of security concerns, and the fact that Portmore has been spared the impact of surges for the past several hurricanes, has reinforced the belief that evacuation is not necessary.
IDENTIFY SHELTERS
The disaster preparedness agency is also urging families to identify shelters with relatives and friends outside of the vulnerable areas.
The ODPEM said some persons can shelter within Greater Portmore in communities such as Epson, Aintree, Ascot, Monza, Daytona, Silverstone and the Hellshire Hills, because these areas are less vulnerable to storm surges.
