Jamaica Braces for Active Hurricane Season: ODPEM Fully Ready, Citizens Urged to Stay Alert

As the 2025 hurricane season dawns, the warnings from the government must not fall on deaf ears. Minister Desmond McKenzie’s call for vigilance is not just another bureaucratic statement, it is a plea rooted in experience. Jamaica is no stranger to disaster. We have felt the fury of storms like Gilbert and Ivan. Just last year, Beryl gave us a harsh reminder of how fragile life and infrastructure can be in the face of nature’s wrath. It is not enough to hope for the best. Preparedness is no longer optional.

McKenzie’s reassurance that ODPEM is financially and logistically ready is encouraging, but readiness must also exist at the community level. Having 900 inspected shelters means little if citizens are reluctant to leave their homes or ignore evacuation orders. Too often, we hear the stories of people who waited too long, trusting luck over logic. The Jamaican spirit is strong, but no amount of strength can hold back a Category 5 hurricane.

Prime Minister Holness’ statement that the machinery of the state must now adopt a mindset of readiness is timely. But let us not mistake ceremony for substance. Real preparedness must reach into every district, from the hills of Manchester to the floodplains of St Catherine. It must mean clear communication, functioning roads, reliable shelters, and the empowerment of local leadership.

The prediction of up to five major hurricanes in our region is no idle threat. Climate change is not a future problem. It is now. The seas are warmer, storms are stronger, and the consequences are more brutal. The poor are hit hardest, and rural communities often bear the brunt in silence. Let this season be different. Let us act before disaster strikes—not after.

Preparedness is not just the job of government agencies. It is the duty of every Jamaican. Battening down windows, storing supplies, knowing where the nearest shelter is, these are not burdens. They are acts of survival. The time for apathy has passed. The storm clouds are gathering, and as a nation, we must meet them with unity, clarity, and action.