KINGSTON, Jamaica — With January designated as Earthquake Awareness Month, Jamaica’s Ministry of Labour and Social Security has publicly affirmed its state of operational readiness to deliver comprehensive disaster relief and recovery services should a catastrophic event occur. The ministry, which chairs the national Humanitarian Assistance Committee, executes its social protection mandate through coordinated shelter management, emergency supply distribution, and financial recovery grants. Jacqueline Shepherd, Director for Disaster Rehabilitation and Welfare Management, provided detailed insights into these preparedness measures during a recent Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank session. Shepherd confirmed that the ministry maintains a strategically stocked warehouse of relief items, a fleet of 32 dedicated response vehicles, and specialized Closed User Group (CUG) communication devices to ensure seamless coordination during emergencies. Emphasizing the ministry’s guiding principle of ‘leave no one behind’, Shepherd acknowledged that while total preparedness for acts of God is impossible, the agency strives for maximum readiness. Disaster response protocols are dynamically tailored to each event’s specific nature and scale. In earthquake scenarios, this involves mass registration in shelters and continuous provision of food, toiletries, and bedding supplies. The ministry collaborates closely with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) to coordinate all welfare activities. Initial response typically begins with in-kind assistance before transitioning to detailed damage assessments using the standardized Jamaica Household Disaster Impact Needs Assessment (JHDINA) Form—a multi-agency tool designed with disaster-specific questions and geotracking capabilities. Financial assistance is provided at three tiers (minor, major, or total destruction) with grant amounts determined by the disaster’s magnitude and scope. When events exceed 20 affected families—qualifying as national disasters—response coordination expands to include humanitarian partners like Food For the Poor, the Red Cross, ADRA, and Salvation Army under the committee’s leadership. Social workers receive continuous training in psychosocial support, CPR, and first aid. Beyond large-scale disasters, the ministry maintains year-round response capabilities for household emergencies including fires and floods. Citizens may contact the ministry at 876-922-9500-8 or visit mlss.gov.jm for assistance or information.