KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a significant milestone for disaster recovery efforts, Jamaica’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has confirmed that emergency personnel have now established access routes to all communities affected by Hurricane Melissa. The announcement came from ODPEM Director General Commander Alvin Gayle during a virtual town hall meeting hosted by the Jamaican Embassy in Washington DC on Tuesday.
Gayle provided crucial clarification regarding what constitutes ‘marooned’ communities, stating: ‘For us, being marooned means that the only way to enter that community is via air. No community in Jamaica remains marooned by this definition.’ While acknowledging that localized flooding and land slippage continue to create accessibility challenges within certain community portions, the Director General emphasized that emergency teams can now reach all affected areas.
The recovery operation continues nearly four weeks after Hurricane Melissa made landfall, with emergency response teams working tirelessly to restore critical infrastructure and distribute essential relief supplies. Gayle reported that approximately 33 major thoroughfares across the island remain obstructed, with the National Works Agency (NWA) maintaining continuous clearance operations to reopen these vital transportation routes.
The virtual town hall served as an important platform for updating both domestic and international stakeholders on Jamaica’s progress in recovering from the hurricane’s extensive impact, demonstrating the coordinated efforts between government agencies and international partners.