Jamaica

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JAMAICA'. 2. Disaster Vulnerability Environmental Hazards 'Red Mud Waste - Each year tons of red mud slurry, the waste product of alumina processing, are generated; for each ton of bauxite refined into alumina, one ton of red mud waste is ganurated. The caustic slurry, composed of aluminum and sodium compounds with some iron impurities, is stored in abandoned mine pits or natural hollows measuring 5 to 100 acres, with almost no precautions against infiltration. Infiltration and contamination of the nearby acquifers has rendered the water unusable for domestic, and agricultural applications in many areas. Additionally, the ponds will not support the development of secondary vegetation. Seismicity Situated within the seismic zone of the Antillean arc, Jamaica has experienced serious earthquakes in the past, and numerous tremors. The densely populated Kingston area experiences approximately 20 tremors annually. Water Shortage The Kingston metropolitan water catchment area is in the third year of a significant shortfall in rain. This has necessitated water shutoffs in major areas of Kingston to conserve water. Most informed observers project that population growth and the increased growth and requirements of industry and agriculture will raise the demands for water during the next two decades so rapidly as to outpace the supply, whether or not rainfall deficiencies occur. Thus chronic shortages can be expected, acting as a constraint on development. 2.3 Disaster History Jamaica has a history of disasters caused by hurricanes, earthquakes, and floods. Hurricanes, the most recurrent disaster type, cause extensive and repeated damage to the agricultural sector. The following lists only some of the most devastating disasters which have occurred since 1692 (when an earthquake caused the capital city to slip into the sea). Selected Major Disaters Disaster Number Number Damage Date Type Location Killed Affected ($000) 1-92, Earthquake Islandwide 2,000 n.a. n.a. & Tsunami St. Ann's Bay 15,
JAMAICA2. Disaster Vulnerability Date'. T' Disaster Type Hurricane A&Tidal Surge Location Port Royal, Queenstown Number Killed Number Affected n.as. Damage ($000) nea. 1780 Hurricane & Savanna-la-Mar 300 na. n.a. Sea Wave & West Coast 1850 Cholera Urban areas 32,000 n.a. n.a. Epidemic 1907 Earthquake Kingston & 1,200 90,000 n.a. Port Maria 1912 Hurricane Tidal wave Western Parishes Savanna-la-Mar 142 n.a. n.a. Montego Bay 1933 Flood Kingston- 53 n.a. n.a. St. Andrew 1933 Hurricane Western Parishes 10 n.a. n.a. 1944 Hurricane Portland, St. Thomas, Kingston, St. Mary 26 n.a. n.a. 1951': Hurricane South Coast 154 :.'"20,000 $20-50,000 1957, Earthquake St. James & 3 n.as n.a. Western Parishes i968': Drought Nationwide n.a. 100,000 *56,000 10/19/73 Tropical Storm Kingston & 6 2,500 $1,700 entire island 1976 Civil Strife Kingston n.a.' 60,000 n.a. 1977. -Dengue'Fever Widespread ,6/791: Flood Western Jamaica 39 160,000 n.a.. 8/4/80 Hurricane North Coast 9 10,000 $30,000 5/20/80 Fire/Accident Kingston 187 n.a. n.a. ,1/81 Fire Esso Plant, Montego n.a. n.a. $14,000 Bay Source: Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Relief Coordination, and Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance Disaster History. 16
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Jamaica

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