Jamaica urged to strengthen disaster response systems before 2026 hurricane season

Jamaica’s disaster response agencies have been told to move from review to execution as the 2026 hurricane season nears, with the prime minister warning that Hurricane Melissa exposed weaknesses in coordination, logistics, information systems and community preparedness.

Speaking at the National Disaster Risk Council meeting, the prime minister said emergency leadership must be visible, disciplined and properly coordinated so citizens and partners are not left searching for direction during a crisis. He said an international disaster committee, to be co-chaired by the permanent secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister and the United Nations resident coordinator, will help manage external assistance.

He said the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management must be strengthened as Jamaica’s central resilience body, while remaining closely integrated with the Jamaica Defence Force, whose logistics capacity is critical to moving, storing and distributing relief supplies.

The prime minister said Melissa also showed that reliable information can save lives. He pointed to gaps in mapping informal communities, tracking blocked roads, identifying isolated residents and distributing assistance. He argued that national identification and stronger registration systems would make relief grants and humanitarian support faster and less prone to duplication.

Recovery, he said, must begin during the response phase. Rebuilding roads without drainage, replacing roofs without stronger standards, or restoring communities in high-risk areas would only recreate disaster risks. The Government plans to advance a resilience impact assessment framework for major policies, infrastructure and strategic projects.

The prime minister also defended the use of donated generators for police stations, JDF units, fire brigades and parish councils, saying critical institutions need power and continuity if they are to serve the public after a storm. He cited Black River police station in St. Elizabeth, which continued operating despite flooding.

Fiscal planning was another major lesson. He said Jamaica responded quickly because it had savings, insurance arrangements, catastrophe bond financing and access to pre-positioned borrowing. He also noted discussions to expand regional disaster insurance coverage to include a coastal programme for fishers.

Local preparedness, he added, must improve through drills, updated parish plans, community emergency response teams and better tracking of vulnerable residents. He called for agencies, utilities, businesses and scientific bodies to strengthen continuity plans, communications and early-warning systems before the next major storm.