ODPEM Completes Initial Hurricane Beryl Damage Assessments in St. Thomas

Kingston, Jamaica – The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has made significant progress in its post-disaster and damage assessments following Hurricane Beryl, as stated by Acting Director General Richard Thompson. The initial focus has been on St. Thomas, with assessments now shifting to the most affected areas, particularly along the southern side of Jamaica.

Assessment Coordination

The coordination of these assessments is being managed from the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), spearheaded by ODPEM. Richard Thompson emphasized the comprehensive nature of this coordination during a post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House on July 10.

Collaborative Efforts

The damage assessments are being conducted by the National Emergency Geographic Information System (GIS) team, with crucial international support from:

World Food Programme (WFP)
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA)

Additionally, the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) and Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) are providing essential drone support to enhance the assessment process.

Use of Technology

To ensure accurate and detailed information, ODPEM is leveraging all available technologies. This includes early aerial reconnaissance assessments supported by the JDF and extensive mapping by the National Emergency GIS response team.

Importance of Data Collection

The gathered information is vital for forming the Damage and Loss Assessment (DALA) report, which will be compiled by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ). This comprehensive data collection aims to cover all impacted communities to provide a true picture of the damage and influence subsequent post-disaster needs assessments.

Conclusion

Richard Thompson reiterated the importance of thorough data collection to guide the damage assessment and post-disaster needs. The efforts by ODPEM and its partners aim to provide a clear and accurate understanding of the impact of Hurricane Beryl on the affected communities.