Nearly three months after Hurricane Melissa devastated the region, St Elizabeth Parish continues to grapple with a significant humanitarian situation as ten emergency shelters remain operational, housing approximately 72 displaced residents. The update came from Acting Parish Disaster Coordinator Rasha Lloyd during the January 12 meeting of the Disaster Preparedness, Hazard Mitigation & Safety Committee in Santa Cruz.
Among the active shelters, two educational institutions—Maggotty High School and Ginger Hill Primary School—continue to serve as temporary housing facilities. Remarkably, Maggotty High School has successfully maintained dual operations since November, functioning simultaneously as both a shelter and an active educational institution without disrupting academic activities.
The situation differs at Ginger Hill Primary School, where severe storm damage has prevented the reopening of classes. Officials project the institution will resume normal operations during the final week of January following necessary repairs.
Lloyd detailed the government’s multi-faceted approach to resolving the shelter crisis, emphasizing collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development. “We’re exploring alternative housing solutions, including family reunification and rental assistance programs where the Government would subsidize accommodation costs,” Lloyd explained. “Additionally, we’re working to provide building materials for reconstruction, as many displaced residents previously occupied board dwellings that were completely destroyed by the hurricane.”
The ongoing shelter reinspection process, initiated in December, has been temporarily suspended throughout January to accommodate Earthquake Awareness Month activities. Coordination with the Jamaica Fire Brigade is currently underway to implement educational programs in schools throughout the month. Official shelter reassessments are scheduled to resume in February.