MoBay’s homeless to stay at Jarrett Park during Hurricane Beryl
Published:Tuesday | July 2, 2024 | 6:35 PM
Montego Bay's Mayor Richard Vernon says provisions have been made to house the city's homeless persons from the impending inclement weather.
Speaking to journalists today following an emergency disaster preparedness meeting with stakeholder agencies in St James, Vernon said these persons are to be given shelter at the Jarrett Park sports stadium.
Further, he said special arrangements are being made for individuals who have mental and other challenges.
“We have units available to transport homeless persons and the area that they will be housed at is at Jarrett Park, and we have the spaces there for them. [Further] We will have the psychiatric wards and the nurses available to assist with persons with mental challenges and other challenges, or persons who are just homeless without these challenges,” said Vernon.
“We have spaces for those persons, and while we cannot force them from their areas [on the streets across Montego Bay], we have to make the provisions for them, and we have made those provisions,” Vernon added.
The mayor also urged residents who live in high-risk locations such as communities with a history of flooding or along riversides or gully embankments to seek shelter on higher ground.
He also recommended that persons who may need to relocate from their homes to either seek out family members or head to their nearest shelters.
“If you need to move prior to the arrival of the hurricane, then reach out to a family member. If there is no space for you where the family is concerned, then you can ask to be placed at the shelter or to access the shelter, and if you are displaced in the event of the disaster, then you can utilise the shelter for that purpose,” said Vernon.
St James has 58 designated shelters.
- Christopher Thomas
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