The National Works Agency (NWA) has intensified its preparations for impact of Tropical Storm Melissa on the island. The ramped up activities include re-cleaning of drains, desilting of gullies and waterways, as well as stockpiling of materials.
Manager, Communication and Customer Services at the NWA, Stephen Shaw says that the agency has since yesterday undertaken additional drain cleaning works, especially in communities along the southern section of Jamaica. He says that the additional works are being done through an allotment of some 200 million dollars in emergency funds from the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development (MEGID).
Mr. Shaw says that communities in the parishes of St. Thomas, St. Andrew, Kingston, St. Catherine, Clarendon, Manchester and St. Elizabeth are being specifically targeted. These lie along the southern section of Jamaica which, based on the information from the Metrological Office are likely to feel the greatest impact of the storm. Additional works are also being done in the parishes of St. Ann, St. Mary and Hanover.
Mr. Shaw says that the desilting activities in the lower section of the Sandy Gully, St. Andrew were progressing well. Up to 4:00 o’clock this afternoon, over 100 truck loads of material had been removed from the area in the vicinity of the bridge along Spanish Town Road. The protective work with sand bags in the McGregor Gully was also over 90% complete at the two targeted locations.
Mr. Shaw is reminding road users to exercise extreme caution in using corridors over the next 48 hours, especially where it is raining. He says that flooding is likely in many areas, as they are low-lying and that rock falls may impact other corridors.
