Kingston, Jamaica — 26 February 2026
The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has relaunched its national “Strap Up Jamaica” campaign ahead of the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season, urging homeowners, builders and contractors to strengthen roofing systems as part of wider disaster resilience efforts.
The campaign, which runs until March 14 under the theme “Build Jamaica’s Resilience, One Strap at a Time”, focuses on promoting the installation and retrofitting of hurricane straps — metal connectors designed to secure roofs to wall plates and reduce failure during high winds. The relaunch follows the impact of severe weather events last year, including Hurricanes Beryl and Melissa, which exposed ongoing vulnerabilities in Jamaica’s housing stock.
At a Jamaica Information Service Think Tank on Thursday, an Information Officer at ODPEM said the initiative comes at a critical moment, with the new hurricane season just months away and recovery still fresh in many communities.
For Jamaica, this is not merely a disaster management message. It is a property and housing issue of national significance.
A Structural Housing Question, Not Just a Seasonal Reminder
Hurricane straps are a relatively modest intervention in construction terms, but their absence has repeatedly contributed to catastrophic roof loss across both formal and informal settlements.
When roofs fail, the consequences ripple beyond immediate physical damage. Entire household savings can be wiped out in hours. Insurance claims increase. Mortgage repayment capacity is strained. Rental properties become uninhabitable. Temporary displacement places pressure on relatives, shelters and public infrastructure.
In a country where a significant portion of wealth is tied up in residential property, roof security is directly linked to household economic stability.
For lower-income and coastal communities, the risks are compounded. Timber-framed homes, incremental construction practices and informal extensions often lack consistent structural reinforcement. In these contexts, hurricane straps are not an upgrade — they are a critical safeguard.
Building Back Better — Or Building Forward?
The phrase “build back better” has become common in post-disaster messaging. But in Jamaica’s housing landscape, the more pressing question is whether resilience measures are being normalised before disaster strikes.
The campaign signals an important policy emphasis: mitigation over reaction.
From a real estate perspective, this shift matters. Stronger roofing systems influence:
- Property durability and lifespan
- Insurability and underwriting risk
- Mortgage security
- Long-term maintenance costs
- Market confidence in vulnerable zones
Where structural standards are inconsistent, buyers price in risk. Where resilience becomes routine, stability follows.
The partnership between ODPEM, the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation, the Incorporated Master Builders Association of Jamaica, and HEART/NSTA Trust suggests an effort to align disaster preparedness with construction training and municipal oversight. That alignment is essential if safer roofing practices are to move beyond public awareness and into enforceable, inspectable standards.
The Insurance and Lending Dimension
The financial system has a stake in this discussion.
Banks and credit institutions rely on the physical integrity of property assets. When severe weather events trigger widespread roof loss, it does not only disrupt households — it destabilises loan portfolios and increases systemic risk.
Insurance premiums, already sensitive to global reinsurance pressures, are also shaped by local building performance. The more resilient the housing stock, the more predictable the risk environment.
In that sense, hurricane straps are part of a wider economic resilience framework. They sit at the intersection of engineering, finance and public policy.
A First Step — But Not the Only One
Dean Jones, founder of Jamaica Homes, has previously called for mandatory hurricane resilience checks following last year’s severe weather impacts.
“This is a good first step,” he said. “But if we are serious about protecting lives and long-term housing security, resilience standards cannot remain optional. We need consistent checks and enforcement. The time to build stronger is not after the next storm.”
His comments reflect a wider sentiment within the property and construction sector: public education campaigns are valuable, but structural resilience ultimately depends on enforcement, inspection culture and compliance.
The Wider Housing Reality
Jamaica’s housing challenge is not only about quantity. It is about quality and durability.
As the island continues to expand housing supply through public programmes and private development, resilience standards must keep pace with growth. Rapid construction without embedded durability risks compounding vulnerability.
Climate projections suggest increased weather volatility in the Caribbean region. For a small island state with extensive coastal development and a large stock of aging housing, preventative measures are not optional luxuries. They are foundational.
If even a moderate storm were to impact the island this year, the difference between strapped and unstrapped roofs could determine whether families remain in their homes or are displaced.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Hurricane Season
With the Atlantic Hurricane Season approaching in June, the relaunch of “Strap Up Jamaica” serves as a reminder that disaster preparedness begins at the property level.
The broader question for Jamaica’s housing future is whether resilience becomes embedded in building culture — from design to inspection to resale — or remains a periodic campaign message.
The strength of the island’s real estate market ultimately depends not only on demand and financing, but on structural confidence.
Hurricane straps may appear small in scale. In housing terms, they represent something larger: a test of whether Jamaica is prepared to treat resilience as a permanent feature of its built environment rather than a seasonal concern.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information and commentary purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice. Readers should seek professional guidance appropriate to their individual circumstances.
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