Category 3 Gilbert - Jamaica's Most Severe Hurricane!

Richard Thompson

On September 12, 1988, Hurricane Gilbert swept over Jamaica like a gigantic bulldozer spreading destruction, confusion and despair over the two million people living on the island.

The twelfth tropical depression of the season became Tropical Strom 'Gilbert' on September 10, and was upgraded to Hurricane 'Gilbert' on the morning of September 11.

The storm made landfall on the east coast of Jamaica at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, September 12, 1988, as a category 3 hurricane. As it began its passage over the island the eye measured about 15 miles across. Wind speeds averaging up to 127 mph. As the eye exited western Jamaica at 6:00 p.m., it intensified further and was identified as a category 5 hurricane, the most severe.

Hurricane Gilbert was the most destructive storm in Jamaica’s history, and the most severe since Hurricane Charlie in 1951. It caused over $4 billion (1988 USD) in damages and claimed close to 50 lives. More than 100,000 houses were damaged or destroyed, some beyond repair. The country’s banana crop was largely wiped out, along with other agricultural products. Hundreds of miles of roads and highways were severely damaged, making transportation and communication difficult. Over 90 per cent of public health facilities suffered damage, affecting medical services and supplies. Over 800,000 people, about 30 per cent of the population, sought shelters outside their homes. Hurricane Gilbert also produced storm surges up to 19 feet high and dumped more than 32 inches of rain on the island, causing extensive flooding and landslides. Many areas were left without water, electricity and telephone services for months. The hurricane also affected the environment, destroying coral reefs, mangroves and wildlife habitats Hurricane Gilbert was a wake-up call for Jamaica and the entire Caribbean to take hurricane preparedness seriously. 

Hurricane Gilbert as a catalyst for disaster management in Jamaica 

 

Jamaica has seen marked improvement in its disaster risk management and disaster risk reduction processes since the passage of Hurricane Gilbert, The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management has worked to ensure that Jamaica has the following:

• Stronger disaster management legislative framework
• More robust national disaster management framework
• Stronger resilience building at the local and community level.
• Emphasis on the importance of weather forecasting   
• Development of national and local level multi-hazard disaster plans 
• Improved resources and capacities to respond to emergencies and disasters.
• Development of a strong disaster response coordination system
• The role of public education and awareness in enhancing disaster risk reduction and resilience.
• Improved new and improved early warning systems 
• Emphasis on local and community capacity building 
• Development of community emergency response teams and structures
• Enhancement in crisis communication and public education.

As Jamaica continues to improve its disaster preparedness and strengthen its infrastructure, Hurricane Gilbert remains a critical benchmark for measuring progress in safeguarding lives, ensuring economic sustainability, and enhancing national resilience.

Written by:

Richard Thompson - ODPEM, Director General (Acting)

Bsc. Physical Planning and Environmental Resource Development( UTECH)

MSc. Geographic Information Science and Earth Observation (University of Twente - Faculty of Geographic Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) )

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