Kingston mayor calls for updated building code to strengthen resilience

 

Kingston's Mayor Andrew Swaby is calling for a review of critical city facilities and updates to Jamaica's building code to strengthen disaster readiness after Hurricane Melissa exposed vulnerabilities.

 

The Category 5 storm, which battered the island two weeks ago, carried winds of up to 185 mph, leaving widespread damage across several parishes.

 

Mayor Swaby, who was speaking at Tuesday's meeting of the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC), noted that the current code allows for structures designed to withstand sustained winds of at least 155 mph. 

 

"This is a clear single that we must update and enforce the regulation under the Building Act without delay. We also need to take a hard look at where our critical facilities are located. Many of our municipal buildings, infirmaries and fire stations sits in vulnerable areas and must be relocated to higher, more sustainable roads. Additionally, the time has come to establish structured evaluation drills to test how people and traffic move in a crisis, with the coordination of all key agencies," he proposed.

 

Hurricane Melissa also drenched the island with up to 40 inches of rain causing widespread devastation particularly across the southwestern and northwestern parishes. 

 

Mr. Swaby said planners and environmental experts must have a central voice in the rebuilding process, and local authorities must be properly equipped and empowered to carry out their responsibilities effectively. 

 

The Building Act of 2018 provides for environmentally friendly and energy-efficient construction while the Jamaica Small Building Residential Code sets minimum standards for one to two family dwellings, townhouses and small general purpose buildings up to 300 sqm or 3,232 sq ft. 

 

It encourages reinforced concrete designs capable of withstanding hurricanes for winds and earthquakes measuring up to 6.5 on the Richter scale.