These youngsters enjoy themselves even as they seek shelter from Hurricane Dean inside the National Arena, in St. Andrew, on Sunday. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security will today open registration centres across the island for persons affected by Hurricane Dean.

According to a release from the Jamaica Information Service and Marlene Miller, disaster manager at the ministry, these centres would operate from all Seventh-Day Adventist churches and Salvation Army centres across the island.

She said the registration centres would open at 9:00 a.m. and persons affected by the hurricane are required to go to the centres and their information would be taken.

She added that officers from the ministry would take the necessary information from the affected persons and an assessment would follow, thereafter.

"The assessment process is led by officers from the ministry, Red Cross, Salvation Army and other non-governmental organisations. They will do home visits and record the information, which is then collated and assistance is given based on the information given," Miss Miller said.

She indicated that the assessment officers would distribute emergency items such as water, tin food, rice and detergent to needy persons.