Portland emergency groups meet

Emergency groups in Portland are now meeting to finalise last minute disaster strategies, ahead of the expected unfavorably weather conditions from Tropical Storm Gustav.



Personnel from the Portland Parish Council, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), the Salvation Army, the Fire Department, along with the relevant state agencies, are now locked in a meeting at the council chamber.



Mayor of Port Antonio, Floyd Patterson, said the parish’s Emergency Operation Centre would be launched later today.



Mr. Patterson said all shelter managers across the parish have been placed on high alert for the various shelters.



According to him, 90 percent of the disaster shelters are available to accommodate residents where evacuations are necessary.



Mr. Patterson said emergency teams are also ready to tackle any eventualites.



The mayor is appealing to residents living in low lying and flood prone areas of the parish including Boundbrook, Manning Avenue, Breastworks, the Rio Grande valley, Folly road, and sections of Manchioneal, to evacuate if danger is imminent.