Major drain cleaning under way as Hurricane Beryl approaches

 

Communication Manager at the National Works Agency, Stephen Shaw, says the agency has been making "significant" progress in its efforts to clear drains in most parishes as Hurricane Beryl barrels towards Jamaica.

 

Mr. Shaw said some critical drains are getting special attention as the mitigation works continue. 

 

"We have been able to clean some critical drains in Ocho Rios, in St. Ann's Bay, in Montego Bay, in Port Antonio, sections of St. Elizabeth and Manchester. We also are doing significant work in sections of St. Andrew, St. Thomas and Hanover," he noted. 

 

 

In Portmore, St. Catherine, Mayor Leon Thomas said the Municipal Corporation is rushing to clear major drains in the municipality and prevent widespread flooding due to Hurricane Beryl.

 

Speaking with Radio Jamaica News on Tuesday afternoon, Mr. Thomas said the National Works Agency has been slow in sending heavy-duty equipment to clear the major drains in the municipality.

 

He said the equipment only arrived on Monday.

 

"The situation is that we need NWA to be more proactive because if they did listen to us, we would never find ourselves in this position that we are in. We are hoping that, you know, the equipment that are placed there now, that they will complete a good portion of it that we can relocate them to another few of these major drains within the municipality."

 

He said the municipality has already cleared minor drains. 

 

 

Mayor Thomas said supplies are being distributed to the shelters across the municipality and all shelter managers have been trained. 

 

"We will be activating our EOC 10 p.m. tonight. So the shelters within the communities, those will activate as soon as the hurricane gets closer to us. Our major shelter within the municipality is the Portmore Community College over by HEART."

 

Several high schools in the municipality have also been designated shelters.