MIAMI (CMC):

Relief organisations in South Florida have been teaming up in efforts to aid Jamaica in the wake of the onslaught by Hurricane Dean.

Food For The Poor, the largest aid provider to the Caribbean, said it has begun preparing for the aftermath.

"We have an entire warehouse stocked with generators and supplies. We're ready to send out container-loads by [Monday] or Tuesday," said Ann Briere, spokeswoman for Food For The Poor.

Besides working with the Jamaican Government to provide hurricane relief supplies and coordinate a damage-assessment team, Briere said the non-profit group will be accepting monetary and supply donations.

She said the aid will also benefit hurricane-affected populations in Haiti, Dominican Republic, Dominica and St. Lucia.

Donations

In addition, The Lauderhill Fire-Rescue Department is also accepting donations for hurricane relief in Jamaica.

Briere said the South Florida Jamaican community has always rallied together to help Jamaica and other Caribbean islands.

"From [Hurricane] Gilbert in the 1980s, we've always gotten together and helped," she said. "We will come together again."

On Sunday, the Jamaica Consulate General and the Jamaican Diaspora Southern United States Advisory Board established several drop-off spots in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

Officials began appealing to residents on Saturday to donate bottled water, flashlights, non-perishable food, batteries and first-aid kits, among other things.