June 1, official start to the hurricane season. No storm or hurricane hit Jamaica last year, though we were heavily impacted by passing systems, manifesting itself in torrential rains across the island. Due to poor road infrastructure here in the Blue Mountains we were especially hit hard. Floods, slips and breakaways had us cut off on several occasions. Unfortunately, we enter this season ill prepared with no new construction of roads, retaining walls, culverts or drains and very little in the way of remedial ( or even temporary ) repairs. We expect to be cut off again, with fewer alternative routes into Kingston. The answer is – stock up with extra gas for the generator and water pump, fill the freezers, buy more candles and dust off the scrabble board.
