Golding

The island's disaster response machinery is now ready for action, as Jamaica prepares for a brush from Hurricane Gustav.

The country is not expected to get a direct hit as the centre of Gustav is projected to pass several miles off Jamaica's north coast sometime this afternoon into tomorrow morning.

However, the Government is taking no chances and, with a hurricane warning already in effect, national emergency operation centres and parish emergency operation centres were activated late yesterday and early this morning.

Yesterday, Gustav barrelled into Haiti, toppling trees, dumping rain and sending global fuel prices soaring on fears the storm could become "extremely dangerous" when it reaches the Gulf of Mexico.

The hurricane roared ashore about 40 miles from Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, with top sustained winds near 90mph, bending palm trees and kicking up surf along waterfronts of dilapidated wooden buildings.

Oil prices shot up by US$5 a barrel yesterday after the National Hurricane Center predicted Gustav could enter the gulf as a major hurricane this weekend. But even as news trickled out of Haiti about the devastation being caused by the Hurricane it was a confident Prime Minister Bruce Golding who provided the update on Jamaica's preparations after a meeting of the National Disaster Committee yesterday.

This is the first time that Jamaica will face a major battle with Mother Nature since the Golding administration took the reins of power just under one year ago.

The prime minister told journalists during a press conference at Jamaica House that there was no reason for alarm.

"We are guardedly optimistic that we won't suffer anything of the damage that we have experienced in recent years but we cannot afford to be complacent," Golding said.

Precautions

He announced that all the necessary precautions were being taken at the national and parish levels and urged all Jamaicans to do their part.

"There are particular areas that do not need more than a Category One or a Category Two hurricane to come under severe stress and, therefore, what we want to say to the people of Jamaica is don't take this one lightly. Let's not be careless," Golding added.

He noted that despite the projections that Jamaica would not suffer a direct hit from Gustav, hurricanes have been noted to make sudden significant changes in direction.

Flood-prone areas

According to Golding, with Gustav projected to move off the north coast, special attention is being paid to flood-prone areas such as Ocho Rios in St Ann where last-minute mitigation measures were continuing yesterday.

In the meantime, Golding announced that the Government has already contacted private sector entities to ensure that heavy duty equipment will be available if needed to clear blocked roads and deal with other emergencies.

The private sector entities will provide support for the National Works Agency (NWA) which has already put its disaster response teams on stand-by.

Equipment ready

Stephen Shaw, manager of communication and customer services at the NWA, says contact has already been made with contractors who will be key partners in the disaster response efforts. He says equipment is being positioned in key areas including the Junction Road in St Mary and in Roselle, St Thomas, to ensure quick response in the event the island is significantly impacted by Gustav.

According to Shaw, the NWA has spent $100 million on drain cleaning and flood mitigation in the last three months with critical drains already cleaned in several communities.

The NWA spent yesterday focussing on reopening several drains in the parishes of St James and Clarendon.

As hurricane Gustav moves closer to Jamaica, residents in Papine, St Andrew, stock up on kerosene yesterday. - Norman Grindley/Acting Photography editor