THE OFFICE of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) takes its series of shelter management training programme into the parish of Manchester today.
The ODPEM/Government of Jamaica training programme, which lasts for two days, has so far benefited the parishes of St. Catherine and St. Thomas and is expected to move into St. Elizabeth and Clarendon by March 21.
Ronald Jackson, ODPEM's Director of Preparedness, explained that the shelter management programme targets the five parishes of the island, which were declared "disaster areas" by Prime Minister P.J Patterson in June of last year following the May/June floods.
He said that day one of the training programme would address topics such as the rudiments of inspecting a shelter, how to operate a shelter, teams needed to manage a centre and the possible problems in operating a shelter. Day two will examine the psychological implications of being housed in a centre and will also feature practical demonstrations of shelter operation. The shelter management programme is implemented at a cost of $500,000.
According to Mr. Jackson, the responses from workshops previously held have been overwhelming. However, he said the ODPEM's serious financial difficulties prevented it from conducting more disaster-related training programmes. "We would therefore like to use this opportunity to appeal to any corporate entities that wish to assist with our training programmes to make contact with the department," said Mr. Jackson.
Marlene Livermore is the Acting Director of Training and Information at ODPEM. In an interview with The Gleaner yesterday, she said it was her expectation that through the shelter management training programme more persons would able to co-ordinate disaster-related efforts, and that more "zonal committees" would be formed. Zonal committees are groups of persons who are responsible for identifying resources for their community in the event of a disaster.
According to Miss Livermore, subsequent to the completion of the shelter management programme, the ODPEM would be staging training programmes in emergency centre operations and damage assessment. These two programmes are expected to cost $700,000.
Among the resource persons expected participate in today's training workshop are Beryl Ambrota representing the Office of the United States Foreign Disaster Assistance programme; and Carol Anthony, Inspector of the Poor. Representatives from numerous communities, particularly those areas that are more vulnerable to disasters as well as representatives from disaster agencies and relevant government organisations, are also expected to be in attendance.
