Lessons from Hurricane Beryl

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Hurricane Beryl gave Jamaica and its citizens a much-needed and critical refresher course via the following lessons: (1) The Jamaica Public Service Company should, over a six-month period, replace all wooden electrical posts with concrete ones. (2) Houses should be built – from the foundation to the roof – using the best practices of the local construction industry. (3) Seawalls should be constructed along the island’s coastline, wherever possible. (4) Public service ads, warning of the potential threats/dangers of hurricanes to persons and/or property, should be run in both the print and electronic media throughout the year. (5) As much as is possible, farmers should reap their crops in the days and weeks leading up to the projected landfall of a Category 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 hurricane. (6) Drains and gullies should be extensively cleaned, once per month outside of the hurricane season, and twice per month throughout the hurricane season, annually; 7. The Jamaica Public Service, Digicel and Flow should, gradually and with governmental financial assistance, run their respective electrical cables underground. (8) An audit should be done of all the major bridges throughout the length and breadth of Jamaica. This should be followed by comprehensive repairs or replacement of bridges, where necessary. (9) Politics should be kept away from the government-aided and led recovery phase in the aftermath of a major hurricane having wreaked havoc on the island. (10) A hurricane museum should be established showing, through graphic photos, the devastation and destruction to lives and properties that were caused by past hurricanes–from Gilbert in 1988 to Beryl in 2024.

PATRICK GALLIMORE

pagalley@protonmail.com