Jamaica: Mitigation projects may have helped saved millions in Hurricane Sandy

The Jamaica Observer reports that in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has pointed to a number of disaster mitigation projects which may have prevented the loss of millions of dollars in property and may even have saved lives.

“From all indications, the communities did very well,” said Karema Aikens-Mitchell, the agency’s senior director of mitigation, planning and research. These communities benefitted from the Building Disaster Resilient Communities Project funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) which targeted micro-disaster risk reduction projects, including mangrove replanting, shelter retrofitting, and the building of foot bridges. They also benefitted from micro project funded by the World Bank, which among other things, seeks to teach people to channel their bath water into drains to prevent landslides.