Wilma approached Jamaica as a cluster of disturbed weather early in October, and was
defined as an area of low-pressure near Jamaica by the end of the second week of the month. Upper-level conditions had become more conducive for tropical cyclone development at this time, and the local Doppler radar was beginning to detect an increase in showers over sections of the island, starting with north-central and north-eastern parishes. A Severe Weather Alert was issued for all parishes at 7:00 a.m. on October 14, 2005 and upgraded to a Flash Flood Watch by noon that day. By then, a broad area of moderate to heavy showers were observed to be scattered over offshore areas of the island’s southern coast and appeared to be moving towards the west-northwest. All parishes throughout the island were also experiencing shower activity, which was concentrated over the western two-thirds of the country. A Flash Flood Warning was issued at 5:00 a.m. on the following day.
By 5:00 p.m. on October 15, the low-pressure system was classified as the season’s 24th Tropical Depression with wind speeds reaching over 45 km/h. The centre was located about 140 km southwest of Montego Bay, or 90 km southwest of Negril Point, Jamaica. The slow movement of the system, combined with the extent of its outer bands, maintained a blanket of rainfall over the island for the next two days. Heaviest activity remained in the south. During this time, there was an erratic southward movement of the system as it developed into a Tropical Storm on the morning of October 17, and into a Category 1 hurricane on the morning of October 18. The intensity of showers, although showing a slight decrease over eastern and some northern parishes, persisted across the island. Rapid intensification of Wilma took place during the twelve hours between 5:00 p.m. on October 18 to 5:00 a.m. on October 19 as the hurricane exploded into Category 5
status with maximum sustained winds of an unprecedented 280 km/h. A tightening of the rain-bands associated with Wilma, and its resumption of a westward and then north-westward forward motion, resulted in fewer showers over Jamaica and the discontinuation of the Flash Flood Warning for the island at 5:00 p.m. on October 20.
The island was severely impacted by the heavy and persistent rainfall that occurred over the period of October 13-20, 2005. An elevated ground water table, the result of rainfall of the days preceding these events, exacerbated the widespread damage.
Affected Population
Doppler radar report indicated that moderate to heavy and sometimes very heavy showers and thunderstorms affected all parishes resulting in landslides; flooding and damage to the agriculture sector, housing and other buildings, roads, bridges and other physical infrastructure. The worst affected parishes were Kingston and St. Andrew, St. Catherine,and Clarendon (See Figure 2). A total of 106 communities island-wide were affected by Hurricane Wilma. Table 3 shows the number of communities affected by parish.
Many road users were seriously affected as a result of damaged and inaccessible roadways and bridges. The Bog Walk Gorge and the Yallahs fording were inaccessible to commuters for several days. A number of road ways were inundated with flood waters. These included the westbound lane of the Mandela Highway/Ferry Road. To facilitate access the eastbound lane was used to accommodate movement in both directions. The Portmore Causeway was also inundated with flood waters. The inundation of both the Mandela Highway and the Portmore Causeway, the main portals in and out of the capital city resulted in significant traffic congestion sometimes for over three hours in the mornings and evenings thus causing frustration to commuters and other users of the road. The National Water Commission operates 460 potable water systems island-wide. Of this number approximately 95 systems were affected by Hurricane Wilma and the damage was not estimated to be substantial compared with that for Hurricanes Dennis and Emily. Domestic water supply to several customers in parishes including Kingston & St. Andrew, St. Catherine and St. Thomas was interrupted. Citizens served by minor water supply systems and parochial roads operated by the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development were affected as a result of damage. Although no significant damage was reported by Cable & Wireless at any of its locations, equipment at some of the company’s operating plants was affected which resulted in disruptions in service to both land line and internet customers. The Rural Agricultural Development Agency (RADA) reported that 18,179 food farmers were affected by Hurricane Wilma of which vegetable farmers were hardest hit. The worst affected parishes were St. Catherine and Clarendon which reported loss to over 5,000 farmers respectively. With regard to loss in the livestock sub-sector, 1,626 livestock farmers suffered loss, with the greatest losses being recorded among chicken and fish farmers.
Casualties
During the passage of the hurricane there was one fatality, a male who died by drowning when he was washed away in the Birds Hill area of Clarendon, while attempting to assist his goat. Two other cases of drowning involving two young boys were indirectly linked to the passage of the hurricane. The incident occurred days after the hurricane and was related to rising water in the Moneague area of St. Ann. The Ministry of Labour and Social Security estimated that approximately 2 454 families or 9 335 individuals island-wide were directly impacted. The value of damage to infrastructure and facilities was estimated at J$68 million. However, in light of the fact that the event was experienced island-wide it can be estimated that approximately 83 741
persons were directly or indirectly affected (see Table 4).
IMPACT ON THE SOCIAL SECTOR
Education
Reports from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture indicated minimal damage to
educational facilities. Serious damage resulting from land slippages was reported at St.
Mary’s High, St. Mary Technical and Martin’s Primary Schools all in the parish of St.
Mary. A number of schools were used as emergency shelters but not for any protracted
period of time. In the wake of the hurricane the Ministry took the decision to close all
schools for one week to facilitate restorative activities as well as to ensure the safety of
students and school personnel. There were no reports of damage to cultural facilities.
Housing
Widespread flooding and landslides associated with Hurricane Wilma resulted in damage
to the housing sector. The National Housing Development Corporation reported that
approximately 31 housing schemes in all three counties were affected. These included:
Port Royal, Callaloo Mews and Riverton Meadows (Surrey); Mt. Edgecombe Phase IV;
Portmore Villa and Shaw Park Glades (Middlesex); and Norwood, Barrett Hall and
Whitehouse (Cornwall). Thirty-six of the 187 housing units in the Kennedy Grove
housing scheme in Clarendon were affected. Four of the houses were almost completely
submerged by flood water.
Solid Waste Disposal
The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) reported that seven of their
disposal sites across the island were affected by the heavy rains from Hurricane Wilma.
These damages include inaccessibility due to damaged roads, onsite flooding, clogged
drainage and eroded cells and cover material.
Health
As at October 24, the total estimate of loss and damage to the health sector resulting from
Hurricane Wilma amounted to $45.2 million JMD. Approximately $28.6 million was
attributed to direct damage with indirect damage accounting for an estimated $16.5
million. The highest level (per cent) of damage was done to health infrastructure
accounting for approximately $26.2 million(JMD).
IMPACT ON THE PRODUCTIVE SECTORS
Performance of the Jamaican Economy during Calendar Year 2005 – The Effects of Hurricane Wilma
During calendar year 2005, the Jamaican economy recorded GDP growth of 1.4 per cent when compared with 2004. For the first six months of 2005 the economy achieved an equal level of output as was reached during the corresponding six months of the previous year. At the end of June, growth forecasts was for 2.6 per cent for the second half of the year with positive projections for all sectors except agriculture1 for which a decline of approximately 3.4 per cent was expected. The projections for the latter half of the year were predicated on: 1. Substantial recovery of production losses which had resulted from the passage of Hurricane Ivan in September 2004; and 2. Full resumption of petroleum refining activities following disruptions in production beginning in October 2004.
Subsequently, the resilience of the productive sector was tested by Hurricanes Dennis and Emily which affected the island during July. Approximately $5 012.0 million ( JMD) in direct losses and $610.3 million (JMD) in indirect costs were incurred by the productive sector because of these two events. However, the economy remained relatively buoyant during the post - hurricane period. Actual GDP growth for July – September 2005 was 3.4 per cent, surpassing earlier projections for 1.9 per cent growth. All sectors grew including Agriculture which increased by approximately 1.6 per cent. Hurricane Wilma which occurred in October 2005 caused direct damage to the Agriculture and the Transport, Storage & Telecommunications sectors estimated at approximately $248.8 million (JMD), mainly in agriculture.
Conclusion:
The main impacts of Hurricane Wilma on the environment were landslides, excessive flooding, significant siltation of water ways and consequently, the coastal zone, nutrient and solid waste pollution and massive beach erosion in several sections of the island. The continued denudation of hillsides increases the risk of landslides and siltation of
waterways which subsequently. This has resulted in extensive sedimentation in the
marine environment which stifles and eventually kills marine life. Excessive nutrient
pollution (eutrophication) in the marine environment rapidly increases algal growth
which stifles and kills coral reefs and seagrass beds. Coral reefs are important in
protecting coastlines by reducing wave action, supplying material to make sand and
providing habitats and food for many marine organisms including fish. Significant beach
erosion and decline in fish species have resulted due to the degradation of this ecosystem.
Effective environmental management, therefore, must be a national priority in light of the
forecasted increase in natural disasters.
Source: https://goo.gl/jaEqrE