Local Government, Commmunity Development & Sport

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The St. James Parish Council, in collaboration with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), has completed training sessions in basic first aid (theory and practical) for some 40 shelter managers in that parish.

This is part of ongoing efforts to get the parish's emergency machinery in peak condition for the present hurricane season.

The shelter managers were presented with official certificates at the St. James Parish Council Disaster Preparedness Committee meeting held on Tuesday (June 19) in Montego Bay.

Disaster Preparedness Coordinator for the parish, Amanda Thompson, in her report to the committee, noted that all 48 shelters were visited and assessed and found to be ready to accommodate persons, in the event of a hurricane or any related disaster.

She pointed out that adequate food supply and other necessary items were procured from Food for the Poor and other agencies, and that public education campaigns were being carried out generally, with emphasis on flood-prone communities.

Speaking with JIS News, Mrs. Thompson said, "The St. James Parish Council saw it fit that additional training of our shelter managers would be extremely ideal and helpful because they are going to be involved in such an intense programme. for instance if there is a disaster and there was no body else available if someone should get hurt, then somebody with first aid training could help".

She added that plans were underway to upgrade the communication system at the parish's municipal buildings for greater effectiveness among agencies such as the police, emergency medical services, and the fire department, among others.

Mrs. Thompson assured that St. James was ready to deal with any situation in the event of a hurricane. She expressed the hope that corporate Montego Bay would respond by giving its support to the committee's preparedness drive because "disasters do not only affect the little people, they affect everybody".

Meanwhile, according to a representative of the Cornwall Regional Hospital, the institution is pulling out all stops in preparation for the hurricane season.

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