Prime Minister Andrew Holness urges Jamaicans to take precautions as hurricane season begins

Prime Minister Andrew Holness

The 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season has begun and Jamaicans have been urged by Prime Minister Andrew Holness to take necessary precautions to protect life and property.

People should listen for and adhere to warnings issued by relevant authorities and ensure they are accessing information from credible sources.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is forecasting a busy hurricane season with 12 to 17 named storms, of which five to nine could become hurricanes, including one to four major hurricanes at Category 3, 4 or 5.

The Prime Minister provided preparedness tips, including stocking up on first-aid supplies, medication, and at least two days’ supply of water and food that does not need cooking or refrigeration.

He also advised trimming trees with branches near buildings or electrical lines and storing important documents in plastic to prevent them from getting wet.

Mr. Holness pointed out that Jamaica is extremely vulnerable to natural disasters and has withstood approximately 40 natural disasters of a national scale between 1950 and 2017, including hurricanes, storms, severe droughts, floods, and epidemics.

Jamaica’s exposure to natural disasters ranks in the top 20 globally, primarily due to low-lying coastal zones where most of the population exists and five major fault lines.

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