Operation CALM: Jamaica's Massive Waste Cleanup Before Hurricane Season

"Operation CALM" Launched: National Drain-Clearing Blitz to Shield Flood-Prone Communities Ahead of 2026 Hurricane Season

Kingston, Jamaica – In a decisive move to fortify the island against the looming threat of the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season, the Government of Jamaica has officially launched Operation CALM (Clean, Align, and Mitigate). This ambitious, multi-agency national waste management initiative promises to be one of the most aggressive pre-season drain-clearing and flood mitigation drives in recent memory.

The announcement was made earlier today at a press conference held at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) headquarters, with Minister of Local Government and Community Development, the Honourable Desmond McKenzie, leading the charge.

“We cannot afford to wait until the rain is falling to remember the gully,” Minister McKenzie declared, his voice firm against the backdrop of a projected “above-normal” hurricane season. “Operation CALM is not just a clean-up; it is a strategic, national intervention to save lives, protect property, and restore dignity to our most vulnerable communities.”

The Urgency: Why Now?

With the Atlantic hurricane season officially running from June 1 to November 30, and early forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicting 17 to 25 named storms, the clock is ticking. For Jamaica, the primary threat is rarely the wind alone; it is the catastrophic flooding that follows.

“Every year, we see the same story: a blocked gully, a plastic bottle, a discarded mattress, and a community underwater,” said Dr. Nicole Dawkins, a disaster risk management specialist at the University of the West Indies. “Operation CALM is a proactive shift from a reactive disaster response to a preventative infrastructure strategy. It acknowledges that waste management is the first line of defence against climate-induced flooding.”

The initiative comes on the heels of the devastating 2024 and 2025 rainy seasons, where communities like Greenwich Town, August Town, and sections of St. Mary experienced waist-deep floodwaters that lingered for days. The economic cost was staggering—over J$3 billion in damage to roads, housing, and agriculture.

What is Operation CALM?

Operation CALM is not a one-off clean-up. It is a comprehensive, three-phase national programme designed to run until the end of May 2026, just before the peak of the hurricane season.

Phase 1: Assessment and Mapping (Current - February 2026)

The National Works Agency (NWA), in collaboration with the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), has already begun a high-tech mapping of every major drain, gully, and watercourse across the 14 parishes. Using drones and GIS technology, teams are identifying “hotspots”—areas where illegal dumping and siltation have created the highest flood risk.

“We know which gullies are the worst offenders,” explained Senior Director of the NWA, Mr. Patrick Lee. “From the Sandy Gully in Kingston to the Rio Cobre in St. Catherine, we have a list. Operation CALM is about going into those areas with heavy machinery and staying there until the job is done.”

Phase 2: The National Blitz (March - May 2026)

This is the heavy-lifting phase. The government has committed to deploying over 500 workers and 80 pieces of heavy equipment—including excavators, dump trucks, and high-pressure water jets—to clear over 200 kilometres of primary and secondary drains. The focus will be on:

• Gully Desilting: Removing tons of sediment and solid waste from concrete and natural gullies.
• Drain Widening: Expanding narrow channels that cause bottlenecks during heavy rainfall.
• Illegal Dumping Enforcement: The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) will be conducting sting operations to catch and prosecute illegal dumpers.

“This is a whole-of-government effort,” Minister McKenzie emphasised. “We have the JDF engineering corps on standby, the NWA providing the technical expertise, and the municipal police enforcing the law. Nobody is exempt. If you are dumping in a gully, you will be found, you will be fined, and you will be prosecuted.”

Phase 3: Community Engagement and Resilience (Ongoing)

Perhaps the most critical component of Operation CALM is the community outreach. The government has acknowledged that centralised efforts will fail without grassroots buy-in. The initiative includes:

• Community Town Halls: In 50 of the most flood-prone communities, including Trench Town, Denham Town, and Port Maria, officials will hold meetings to educate residents on proper waste disposal and the dangers of blocked drains.
• The “Adopt-A-Drain” Programme: A citizen-led initiative where local groups, schools, and churches “adopt” a section of drain and commit to keeping it clear of debris. Participants will receive tools, garbage bags, and small grants for community beautification.
• Waste Collection Expansion: The NSWMA has announced extended collection routes and more frequent pickups in high-density areas to reduce the need for illegal dumping.

The Human Impact: A Story of Hope

In the community of Bayside, St. Thomas, a small fishing village that is flooded every time a tropical wave passes, the news of Operation CALM was met with cautious optimism.

“Mi tired fi see mi living room turn into a swimming pool every year,” said 68-year-old Miss Ivy Brown, a lifelong resident. “The last storm, we lost everything—mi fridge, mi bed, mi grandchildren’s school books. If dem really clear the drain this time, maybe we can have a peaceful hurricane season. But we have to play our part too. We can’t be throwing garbage in the gully and then crying when the water come.”

Her sentiment echoes the core philosophy of Operation CALM: that infrastructure alone is not enough. Behavioural change is key.

The Cost and The Future

The government has allocated an initial budget of J$1.8 billion for the first phase of Operation CALM, with additional funds to be drawn from the Climate Change Adaptation Fund and the Consolidated Fund. Critics, however, have questioned the sustainability of the programme.

“This is good, but is it a one-off?” asked Opposition Spokesperson on Local Government, Senator Donna Scott-Mottley. “We need a permanent, well-funded, year-round drain maintenance programme. Not just a pre-election or pre-hurricane season blitz.”

Minister McKenzie countered that Operation CALM is designed to be the foundation of a permanent national drainage maintenance framework. “This is not a photo opportunity. This is a new standard. We are building a system that will last for generations.”

How You Can Help

As Operation CALM rolls out across the island, the government is calling on all Jamaicans to be partners in the effort.

1. Stop the Dumping: Dispose of garbage properly. Use the NSWMA collection services or designated disposal sites.

2. Report Blockages: Call the NWA’s 24-hour hotline at 888-DRAIN (37246) to report blocked drains in your area.

3. Join the Adopt-A-Drain Programme: Contact your local Municipal Corporation to sign up.

4. Prepare Your Home: Clear your own guttering and property drains. A clean yard starts with a clean mindset.

The 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season is coming. The question is not if it will rain, but how prepared we are when it does. Operation CALM is Jamaica’s boldest answer yet.

Watch this space for updates on the next community town hall in your parish.