Jamaica: Macro-Socio-Economic and Environmental Assessment of ...

Table 2: Comparison of Highest One-Day Rainfall Totals (mm) with Climatological
Return Periods for Southern Parishes
Parish/Station
Highest
24-hour 2-yr 5-yr 10-yr 25-yr 50-yr 100-yr
Total
Westmoreland
Darliston 318.9 104 174 220 279 322 365
Savanna-La-Mar 196.7 107 160 195 239 272 304
St. Elizabeth
Appleton 194.4 90 124 145 172 192 212
Manchester
Craighead 309.5 128 177 209 250 280 310
Hartham 400.0 119 180 221 273 311 349
Clarendon
Trout Hall 354.8 112 175 217 269 308 347
St. Catherine
Enfield 300.0 110 177 221 277 318 360
Worthy Park 408.0 118 187 233 291 334 376
Kingston/St. Andrew
Mavis Bank 518.0 139 242 313 400 465 529
Rose Hill 487.0 110 175 218 273 313 353
St. Thomas
Plantain Garden 243.6 165 248 302 371 423 474
2. Emergency actions and expenditures
Given that hurricane Ivan impacted relatively heavily on the poor and vulnerable, government
agencies and private organizations had to undertake significant emergency relief operations. The
Emergency Operations Centre of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency
Management began operations on September 9, especially in the most heavily affected areas,
including Clarendon, St. Elizabeth, and Westmoreland, by evacuating many persons from
vulnerable areas. The following morning, the National Emergency Operations Centre was
activated to try and cope with the immediate effects of the disaster. The United Nations Disaster
Assessment Team was in place even before the arrival of the hurricane, which made local
operations more effective and timely.
Aerial surveys were undertaken to ascertain those areas that required priority attention in the
relief phase. Food and water, immediate health care, as well as the most essential goods were
provided to those housed in temporary shelters. Several assessment teams – both local and
internationally supported – were then sent islandwide to collate and collect data on damages and
emergency needs. The OFDA rapid damage assessment methodology was used for the latter.
Emergency assistance flowed promptly and generously to the most affected. Government and
private sector sources made contributions to support these humanitarian requirements. It has
been estimated that an amount of J$94.9 million, taken from the appropriate government
institutions, was used for these relief activities. Contributions from the international community
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