As Hurricane Beryl approached Jamaica with howling Category 4 winds and sheets of torrential rain on the morning of July 3, 2024, fears of widespread destruction loomed. But unlike Tropical Storm Michelle over two decades ago which devastated Annotto Bay and left hundreds homeless this time the story was different. Jamaica’s preparedness paid off.
Thanks to the long-term efforts under the Jamaica Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project, backed by the Government and the World Bank, the island nation displayed a stronger, smarter response to disaster. From shored-up coastlines and floodproof neighborhoods to faster emergency services and seismic-ready infrastructure, the country reaped the benefits of years of risk-informed planning.
In Annotto Bay, once a hotspot for coastal erosion, newly constructed groynes and widened beaches resisted the violent waves of Beryl. Instead of collapsing coastlines, the shore held firm, sparing residents the heartbreak of losing homes and livelihoods to the sea.
In Kingston, a reinforced seawall along Port Royal Street proved its worth. The stretch, once vulnerable to storm surges and road collapse, stood solid during the hurricane. Traffic could flow, businesses stayed open, and communities remained connected.
Inland too, communities previously crippled by flash floods like Myton Gully and Church Pen experienced a reprieve. After receiving hundreds of meters of drainage and bridge upgrades, they avoided the kind of catastrophic flooding that once left homes submerged and roads impassable.
Emergency response was faster than ever before. In Port Maria, where firefighters once had to travel from distant towns during crises, a new fire station slashed response times from 45 minutes to under 10. Montego Bay and Yallahs also benefited from upgraded facilities that brought life-saving services closer to thousands more citizens.
Beyond physical defenses, the government has made strides in understanding and anticipating disaster risks. Jamaica’s national seismic network received a significant upgrade, including solar-powered sensors and improved mapping of earthquake-prone zones. Seismic microzonation studies and a comprehensive screening of thousands of structures identified key vulnerabilities in schools and police stations, leading to targeted action for retrofitting and safety improvements.
The launch of the National Risk Information Platform, expected to be fully rolled out by 2025 is another leap forward. By providing centralized hazard data, it aims to help planners, policymakers, and emergency responders make better, faster, evidence-based decisions.
With 1.6 million people more than half the nation directly benefiting from these efforts, Jamaica model of proactive disaster management is setting an example for other climate-vulnerable nations. As hurricanes intensify and climate risks grow, the country investment in resilience offers a compelling case: that preparedness today is the strongest protection against tomorrow storms.