Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management

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Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management
Current ODPEM Logo.jpg
Agency overview
FormedJune 1980 (1980-06) (as Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Relief Coordination)
1993 (as Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management)
Jurisdiction Prime Minister of Jamaica
Employees60 (2007)
Agency executive
Website www.odpem.org.jm

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (formerly known as the ODIPERC or Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Relief Coordination) is the Jamaican disaster preparedness coordinating body, which is responsible for preventing and reducing impact of hazards. It also coordinates responses to inter-island disasters with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency. [1]

History

On 11 June 1979, the Tropical Depression One brought intense flooding to Jamaica. Recognizing the need for a disaster preparedness and relief organization, the Government of Jamaica established the ODIPERC in June 1980 to provide relief and prepare Jamaica for future disasters. [2] [3] [4]

In 1993, the name ODIPERC was made into a statuary body and was renamed to ODPEM. [2] [3] [4]

Following the passing of Hurricane Melissa on 5 November 2025, the ODPEM was reassigned to the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM). [5] Jamaica Defence Force commander Alvin Gayle was appointed director general of the ODPEM, [6] while former acting head Richard Thompson had been resigned to the OPM " to assist in the establishment of strategic frameworks and systems for national relief and recovery efforts." [7]

References

  1. ↑ ODPEM. "Mission Statement". Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management. Retrieved 26 August 2007.
  2. 1 2 "ODPEM: Who We Are". www.odpem.org.jm. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  3. 1 2 NATURAL DISASTERS AND THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS. Washington, D.C.: Office of Foreign Disaster Agency for International Development. July 1982. pp. 26, 27. CiteSeerX   10.1.1.464.657 .
  4. 1 2 Country Assessment Report for Jamaica (PDF). United Nations Development Programme. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  5. ↑ "ODPEM reassigned to OPM - Jamaica Observer". 5 November 2025. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  6. ↑ "Secondment of Commander Alvin Gayle as Director General- Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management – Office of the Prime Minister". opm.gov.jm. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  7. ↑ "not a good move". The Gleaner. 7 November 2025. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
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