Old Harbour Bay developing community disaster response plan

The Old Harbour Bay Community Development Association in St. Catherine has partnered with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) to develop a community based disaster response plan.

Andre Gordon, President of the Association, says his organization and ODPEM have been conducting several workshops involving Old Harbour Bay residents to prepare them for natural disasters.

"It's a plan for the community as it how we respond if and when there is a disaster. We are on the sea coast and we're exposed to natural disasters from time to time. As a result of that, we want to be as prepared as we can be to respond to not only natural disaster caused by hurricanes but any disaster, even man made ones in the community, to minimize the impact both on lives and on property," he said.

Recently, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, CDEMA, conducted a work shop with residents of Old Harbour Bay to look at ways at addressing and dealing with natural disasters, especially hurricanes.