‘The rest is in God’s hands’

Despite constant warnings that there could be great devastation should a major catastrophe hit the city of Montego Bay in St James, the local authorities are yet to establish proper emergency protocols, including an evacuation plan.

The 5.6-magnitude earthquake that hit the island last week served as a wake-up call and stakeholders are now calling for a comprehensive emergency response system for St James, especially for coastal areas.

Montego Bay boasts a rich collection of the top hotels and resorts in international tourism, the lifeblood of the local economy, attracting millions of visitors each year, eager to experience the stunning beaches, community culture, and the pulsating nightlife on the Hip Strip. But its coastal locale also makes it vulnerable to natural disasters such as tsunamis and hurricanes.

“The absence of an emergency evacuation plan in Montego Bay poses significant risks for businesses, jeopardising employee safety, asset protection, business continuity, and the local economy,” said Oral Heaven, president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

“Given the recent earthquake and the potential threat of future disasters, it is imperative for authorities in Montego Bay to prioritise the development and implementation of an emergency evacuation plan.”

Undocumented protocol

Last week, deputy chairman of the St James Municipal Corporation, Councillor Richard Vernon, told The Gleaner that a comprehensive emergency plan was being worked on, “but nonetheless, there is an undocumented protocol that we use in case of emergencies”.

“This protocol is under the Disaster Risk Management Act, where each entity must have a disaster plan, which also guides evacuation,” the deputy mayor explained.

He said sensitisation, inspections, assessments, and drills are conducted by the municipality’s disaster unit. The drills are executed at public and private organisations several times per year.

“What is important to note is that each public building must have emergency exits and assembly points established,” Vernon added. “Additionally, in my opinion, much more must be done for evacuation training among general employees and employers.”

Rescue teams

In the case of floods and hurricanes, he said the protocol entails the activation of rescue teams from the Jamaica Defence Force, the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the Jamaica Fire Brigade. Persons, he said, would be housed in shelters. Zonal committees are also being established in communities.

Talks have been initiated with the authorities in the city of Hoboken in New Jersey to provide technical assistance in developing the comprehensive emergency response plan.

“In the case of an earthquake, we ensure proper building codes, resilience mechanisms, and training, and the rest is in God’s hands,” said the deputy mayor.

Montego Bay has been grappling with the issue of flooding for the past two decades, as intense rainfall for just a short period can lead to catastrophic effects, including the tragic loss of lives. Gridlock is frequent in areas such as Freeport, Bogue and Rose Hall.

Stakeholders point to rapid urbanisation and improper land-use practices as significant factors that have worsened the problem. Unplanned constructions, including the filling of wetlands and improper building on floodplains, have reduced the natural capacity of the land to absorb water, increasing surface run-off during rainfall.

AIRPORT SAFETY PROTOCOLS

Benton Allen, manager of emergency response services at MBJ Airports Limited, operators of the Sangster International Airport, told The Gleaner,“We are mandated internationally and locally to have an emergency response plan.”

The Airport Operations Directives on Safety and Security Procedures gives instructions on procedures to be employed in the event of a partial or full evacuation of the terminal building.

“In the event of an emergency requiring partial or total evacuation of the terminal, persons designated as floor wardens will conduct an orderly, organised and safe exit of passengers and employees from the affected areas,” the directive states.

Some events that might merit an evacuation are fire and security-related events, including bomb threats, armed assaults, hostage-taking incidents, unlawful seizures, public health and industrial accident occurrence and natural disasters.

“Within that plan we are supposed to plan for aircraft-related emergencies, and that includes aircraft on land and aircraft at sea,” he said, adding that plans are also in place for natural disasters or anything that disrupts the operations of the airport.

In the event of a tsunami, he said they would relocate to a terminal site, “But as you know for those tidal waves, sometimes there is no escape unless you run to the mountains, but we are prepared for all situations.”

EMERGENCY PLAN FOR HOTELS

The Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association is especially concerned because most resorts and hotels are located along the Jamaican coastline, especially along the western tourism belt, putting them in the direct path of a potential tsunami.

“To be frank, there is no evacuation plan that I am aware of,” said JHTA President Robin Russell.

The association recently collaborated with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) to compile an emergency response manual.

Entitled the Emergency Manual Training Guide for Hotel Properties in Jamaica, the 52-page document offers guidance on how to deal with various emergencies such as earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, or an active shooter.

Richard Wallace, former president of the Negril Chamber of Commerce and operator of the Boardwalk Village, one of the many accommodations located along the Seven Miles beach, said hotel operators have an emergency plan which is compulsory for their licensing.

“For the licensing procedure, you have to show some form of emergency plan, such as assembly areas, among other things, but I have not heard of an evacuation plan at the municipal level or planning authority,” Wallace stated.

Dr Carol Archer, urban planner and professor in the Faculty of the Built Environment at The University of Technology, Jamaica, said Montego Bay can build a more resilient future by taking proactive steps to enhance its infrastructure, resources, and community engagement, in order to safeguard the well-being of its residents and businesses in the face of potential disasters.

mark.titus@gleanerjm.com