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By Nakinskie Robinson
As a small island developing state, Jamaica is one of the most disaster-prone areas in the world and new data from the latest Don Anderson poll show very little public confidence in the country's preparedness for a national emergency.
Jamaicans will breathe a sigh of relief when November rolls around, as this will mark the close of a record breaking 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.
But this very season will make its return on June 1 next year.
The weather events that come with it are expected to be more intense as a result of climate change.
The near $10 million recovery bill for the agriculture sector and $2 billion to repair infrastructure post Hurricane Beryl - the earliest category 5 hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic - is the clearest indication of that.
With the almost monthly reports of tremors ranging from magnitude 3 to 5 on the Richter scale, Jamaicans are now zoned in on disaster preparedness.
In the latest survey, 70 per cent of the 1,012 people polled believe the country is not adequately prepared for a national emergency, including, earthquakes, hurricane and flooding.
Only 19.7 per cent said the country is adequately prepared, while 10.2 per cent expressed uncertainty.
Flooding has been persistent across the island in recent months, the latest occurring Wednesday, after days of heavy downpour covered sections of the Corporate Area.
Globally, reports of experiencing disasters have been increasing in recent years.
In 2021, 27 per cent of the world’s adult population reported experiencing a disaster in the last five years, which increased to 30 per cent in 2023.
Post Hurricane Beryl, the government had indicated the need for a review of its disaster response.
It also established the Disaster Emergency Communications System and a Flood Hazard Early Warning System in parts of the country to better respond to floods and other disasters.
Health care
Meanwhile, the poll also asked respondents to rate the level of health care in Jamaica's public hospitals.
Using a scale of 1-10, (with 10 being the highest score), 21.6 per cent of respondents ranked the system at a 5, while 15.8 per cent gave the public health system the lowest rating of 1.
Some 11.7 per cent ranked the system at a 4.
Fieldwork for the poll was conducted between September 27 and October 3.
Participants were aged 18 years and older.
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