Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM)
2-4 Haining Road, Kingston 5, Jamaica, Agency
Disaster preparedness is a dynamic function, which includes the identification of disaster threats and risks throughout the country and the formulation of plans to create a state of readiness to meet the needs of victims when a disaster strikes.
Emergence of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Relief Coordination (ODIPERC)
In response to all of the above threats to the country, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Relief Coordination (ODIPERC) was established in July 1980. It was set up on the advice of the United Nations Disaster Relief Office (UNDRO), the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) of the United States’ State Department and the League of Red Cross Societies (LRCS), following their joint review of Jamaica’s vulnerability and the status of the current national emergency management capacity.
From the ODIPERC to the ODPEM
In 1993, the name ODIPERC was changed to the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), under the provisions of the new Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management Act.
According to Section 4 of the ODPEM Act, the Organization is mandated:
… to advance disaster preparedness and emergency management measures in Jamaica by facilitating and coordinating the development and implementation of integrated management systems.
The ODPEM is the National Disaster Organization responsible for disaster management in Jamaica and has been charged with the responsibility for taking action to reduce the impact of disasters and emergencies on the Jamaican population and its economy. It plays a coordinating role in the execution of emergency response and relief operations in major disaster events.
As a statutory body, the ODPEM operates out of the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development with a Board of Management overseeing its activities.
The ODPEM has the unique role of being the only government agency to provide disaster management functions in Jamaica.
Emergence of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Relief Coordination (ODIPERC)
In response to all of the above threats to the country, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Relief Coordination (ODIPERC) was established in July 1980. It was set up on the advice of the United Nations Disaster Relief Office (UNDRO), the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) of the United States’ State Department and the League of Red Cross Societies (LRCS), following their joint review of Jamaica’s vulnerability and the status of the current national emergency management capacity.
From the ODIPERC to the ODPEM
In 1993, the name ODIPERC was changed to the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), under the provisions of the new Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management Act.
According to Section 4 of the ODPEM Act, the Organization is mandated:
… to advance disaster preparedness and emergency management measures in Jamaica by facilitating and coordinating the development and implementation of integrated management systems.
The ODPEM is the National Disaster Organization responsible for disaster management in Jamaica and has been charged with the responsibility for taking action to reduce the impact of disasters and emergencies on the Jamaican population and its economy. It plays a coordinating role in the execution of emergency response and relief operations in major disaster events.
As a statutory body, the ODPEM operates out of the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development with a Board of Management overseeing its activities.
The ODPEM has the unique role of being the only government agency to provide disaster management functions in Jamaica.
