Jamaica

JAMAICA'
3. Disaster Preparedness and Assistance
Jamaica Scouts Association
Aron Lander
Tel: 809/926-7209
International Organizations
UNICEF
Imperial Life Building
60 Knutsford Blvd.
P.O. Box 305
Kingston 5
Tel: 809/926-7584
Tx: 2361
Christian Action for Development in the Caribbean (CADEC)
P.O. Box 527
14 South Avenue
Kingston 10
Tel: 809/926-7114
Tx: 2385
3.11 U.S. Mission Disaster Plan
There is no disaster plan for the U.S. Mission in Jamaica. However,
the Mission Disaster Relief Officer maintains a close working relationship
with the Office of Disaster Preparedness. During past disasters (Hurricane
Allen, 1980, Western Flooding, 1979) the USG has worked effectively with
the Jamaican Emergency Relief Coordinator. The A.I.D. Mission, through the
Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, has provided funding for
disaster management training for key ODP rersonnel, as well as for seminars,
conferences, and studies coordinated by ODP. The U.S. Mission has a fleet
of five trucks (one 3-ton, and four smaller trucks) which could be contributed
to a relief effort.
3.12 Mitigation Efforts
The Government of Jamaica has undertaken a major study of the nation's
resources and another of its natural hazards. The Ministry of Agriculture's
Rural Physical Planning Division is making rapid progress in its
program to inventory and analyze the entire island, identifying each
hectare of land by soil composition, and current use, the amount of rainfall,
and temperature fluctuations.
The aim of this multi-year project is to provide policy makers with
the information they need to make informed choices between various
development alternatives. Models which indicate what crops will grow best
in which part of the country, can be matched to national policy objectives
(reduced unemployment and increased foreign exchange) to select optimum
development alternatives.
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