A damaged Old Harbour Bay, one of the six fishing villages to be assisted by a $10-million hurricane disaster preparedness project, the Disaster Response Project, funded by the AIC Ltd. This project, administered by the National Commercial Bank Foundation, will develop community disaster plans and establish a disaster relief warehouse. - Contributed

In preparation for the potential strike of a hurricane this season, the National Commercial Bank (NCB) Foundation is working closely with a local non-governmental organisation, Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation (C-CAM), to implement a disaster preparedness project for the Portland Bight area.

This activity is the second phase of a $10-million initiative funded by Michael Lee-Chin's AIC Ltd in the aftermath of Hurricane Dean. This phase will focus on developing community disaster plans for six vulnerable fishing villages located along the southern-most tip of the island. These communities have repeatedly been destroyed by hurricanes over the years - most recently hurricanes Ivan and Dean. The six villages are the home to more than 22,000 Jamaicans, many of whom are fishermen and families who are supported by the fishing industry.

Developing disaster plans

C-CAM will work closely with members of each community in developing disaster plans for hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and fire. The community disaster plans will be simple guides for residents on what to do in the event of one of these natural or man-made emergencies. The plans will identify disaster shelters in each of the communities; emergency numbers; and how to prepare and respond before, during and after one of these crises.

The AIC Ltd Disaster Response Project, which is administered by NCB Foundation, will also fund the establishment of a disaster relief warehouse that will be managed by C-CAM. This warehouse will be stocked with relief supplies for swift distribution to affected residents in the Portland Bight area. The communities that will benefit from the AIC Ltd/NCB Foundation project are Portland Cottage, Mitchell Town, Rocky Point, Rocky Settlement, Salt River and Old Harbour Bay.