There are lessons in this storm
Jamaicans at home and abroad, no doubt, are grateful that the island was spared worse damage from the passage of Hurricane Beryl.
Assessment of the space continues, and the reports vary from location to location.
So far, south-western coastal communities seem to have faced the most fallout, with homes damaged, residents displaced, and utilities suspended or unavailable.
Response to everyone’s needs will, of necessity, take some time, with the areas that present complications from fallen trees, rough terrain, and damage to access roads being required to wait the longest.
What disturbs us in this space, however, is that many Jamaicans continue to underestimate the threat of these weather systems to both life and limb.
Despite the Government employing available legislature, among them the Disaster Risk Management Act, in an attempt to safeguard residents, the many scenes on social media of violations give rise to much concern.
Be it this generation or the stories told by our forebears, enough has been shared to engender greater care by Jamaicans to see that we ride out storms safely.
That the hand of God has been merciful to us, as clergypeople continue to say, is no reason for indiscipline and utter recklessness.
The party atmosphere, roving salespersons and storm-crazy madness captured on social media must become elements of the past.
What’s more, while we have reason to commend the overall improved communication and management of the affairs related to the hurricane, it is high time more preparatory moves are taken before the start of the annual Atlantic hurricane season to bolster the quality of our response.
There are too many experienced individuals in the national emergency management apparatus to ensure that gully and drain cleaning are not on in earnest hours before the effects of the weather system begins to impact the State.
Preparation must be ongoing so that we are further along the learning curve each year.
Only then will we develop confidence in our leadership in the times they are most needed.
The lessons must be learned by the Government, Opposition, emergency management professionals, and the general citizenry if we are to fare better from the experience of the wrath of these weather systems, which the effects of climate change have made more virulent.