Jamaicans are being urged to increase their disaster preparedness activities as the most active period of the 2013 hurricane season is now underway.
The appeal came from acting director of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) Richard Thompson, who says August and September have traditionally been the most active months of the season.
Forecasters have predicted that the 2013 hurricane season would be very active with a 70 per cent chance of producing up to 17 named storms, 10 of which could develop into hurricanes.
Thompson says the government is working to ensure that drains are properly cleaned and has urged residents to desist from dumping garbage in them.
He says now is the time for everyone to get involved in hurricane preparedness activities.