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Clarendon Municipal Corporation is reminding residents of the importance of consulting their local authority before embarking on any home building project.
The warning comes nearly a week after Hurricane Beryl caused extensive damage to several homes.
The company stressed that many houses in the southern belt of the parish, including areas such as Portland Cottage, were built without the necessary approvals.
The company stressed that Portland Cottage is a designated “no-build” zone.
“We do have some informal settlements in the southern belt and some of those houses were never approved by the company. In fact, in Portland Lodge, during Hurricane Ivan (in 2004), a new plan was put in place and so some of the houses that were damaged were houses where people had left and relocated to higher ground. We have no-build zones in Portland Lodge and we continue to monitor to make sure there are no illegal buildings within the wetlands in those areas,” CEO Rowhan Blake told reporters after a company meeting last week.
The communities of Portland Cottage and Rocky Point, southeast of Clarendon, are listed as extremely vulnerable by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) due to their proximity to the ocean.
After Hurricane Ivan wreaked havoc in 2004 — destroying hundreds of homes and killing eight people — then-Prime Minister PJ Paterson declared the region a disaster area and issued a directive prohibiting any reconstruction work.
Notice
“What we as a company are telling residents is that they need to submit building applications because not only are they building in vulnerable areas, but the type of building itself, we need to be concerned about the type of building.
“As we move through the southern belt, we are finding that some people are building above ground level and construction methods may need to be adjusted and some may need to build higher floors to mitigate the effects of flooding,” Black added.
Under the Jamaican Building Act, buildings must be designed to strict standards to ensure they can withstand natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes and floods. The Act requires that anyone who intends to construct, alter or expand a building must submit a written notice to the municipality and a complete set of plans detailing the building’s design, location, construction methods, and drainage and water supply systems. In addition, the Act prohibits construction in wetlands, coastal areas and other environmentally sensitive areas to protect these important ecosystems and mitigate environmental risks.
Meppen Mayor Joel Williams stressed that those receiving reconstruction assistance must make resilience a priority. He urged that reconstruction efforts focus on building strong, durable structures that can withstand future natural disasters.
“You have to be able to build solidly. You’re not going to get aid and then slap some zinc on the roof as you please, because if we get another hurricane, you have to be in a better position than you were when Hurricane Beryl came through,” Williams said.
CEO Black said the company will strictly enforce regulations throughout the restoration period, stressing that strict adherence to these guidelines is essential to ensuring the safety and effectiveness of the reconstruction work.
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