Kingston, Jamaica — 26 February 2026
The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has relaunched its national “Strap Up Jamaica” campaign ahead of the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season, urging homeowners, builders and contractors to strengthen roofing systems as part of wider disaster resilience efforts.
The campaign, which runs until March 14 under the theme “Build Jamaica’s Resilience, One Strap at a Time”, focuses on promoting the installation and retrofitting of hurricane straps — metal connectors designed to secure roofs to wall plates and reduce failure during high winds. The relaunch follows the impact of severe weather events last year, including Hurricanes Beryl and Melissa, which exposed ongoing vulnerabilities in Jamaica’s housing stock.
At a Jamaica Information Service Think Tank on Thursday, an Information Officer at ODPEM said the initiative comes at a critical moment, with the new hurricane season just months away and recovery still fresh in many commu…
