The National Works Agency (NWA) has put all its disaster response teams on stand-by and is also in the process of cleaning critical drains in some parishes, as the island braces for the effects of Hurricane Gustav.
According to Manager of Communication and Customer Services at the National Works Agency, Stephen Shaw, the Agency has been in contact with contractors who are key partners in its disaster response effort.
He says equipment will be pre-positioned along the Junction Road in St. Mary and at Roselle in St. Thomas. These corridors are critical to the movement of goods and persons between several communities in these parishes and Kingston.
Mr. Shaw says equipment are being pre-positioned in these key areas in order to minimize the response time, in the event of the island being significantly impacted by the hurricane.
The NWA has spent over 100 million dollars on drain cleaning and mitigation activities over the last three months. Critical drains have been cleaned in several communities throughout the island.
Mr. Shaw says the NWA is now focusing on re-opening several of these drains in the parishes of St. James and Clarendon, before the impact of the hurricane. Among the areas being targeted are Rocky Point, Osbourne Store, May Pen and Aenon Town in Clarendon.
Mr. Shaw says in May Pen, the NWA is cleaning drains along Nelson Streetand the Rasta Gully. The Catherine Hall main drain in St. James is also being cleaned.
The NWA is also advising persons to avoid using roadways in flood prone areas, where possible.
