Jamaica

JAMAICA
3. Disaster Preparedness and Assistance
3. Disaster Preparedness and Assistance
3.1 Jamaica Disaster Plan
In 1980, the Government of Jamaica established the Office of Disaster
Preparedness and Emergency Relief Coordination (ODP) within the Office of
the Prime Minister to coordinate disaster prevention, preparedness, and
emergency relief operations nationwide. ODP operates as a part of the
Prime Minister's Office and interacts extensively with the Planning
Departments, Ministry of Construction, Agriculture, and others engaged in
development and relief.
Office of Disaster Preparedness and
Emergency Relief Coordination (ODP)
2a Devon Road
Kingston 10
Tel: 809/929-4400 to 04
Franklin McDonald
Director
Keith Ford
Head
Research and Planning
Suzanne Haik
Head
Public Education and Training
ODP is the coordinating office for all disaster preparedness and
relief operations in Jamaica. In this capacity, its most critical
function is not that of directly providing relief, but in developing and
mobilizing existing resources, at the national and parish levels to anticipate
and plan for disasters. ODP is therefore organized into three
divisions: Planning and Research; Preparedness and Emergency Operations;
and Public Education, Information and Training. The Planning and Research
Branch is engaged in developing a comprehensive picture of Jamaica's disaster
vulnerability - pinpointing those areas judged to be most vulnerable
to various types of disasters, and identifying mitigation measures which
can be implemented to reduce the identified risks. This branch is
gathering data from the parishes on the extent of damage, cost of repair,
and availability of local resources during past major disasters. This
information will be pooled with current figures received from the
ministries on the distribution and availability of reconstruction equipment
and materials likely to be needed following a large-scale disaster.
Planning and Research also works to promote disaster awareness, and consequent
mitigation among the ministries engaged in planning and effecting
Jamaican development projects aq well as among the professional societies,
Bureau of Standards, land-uae and other development planners.
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