Recurring droughts and extreme weather events have undermined agricultural productivity in western Jamaica, accelerating rural-to-urban migration. Many of these migrants seek employment in the tourism and construction sectors in Montego Bay and have settled informally in drainage reserves where they are highly exposed to stormwater, flash floods, and coastal storm surges. According to the Social Development Commission, migrants make up 32.5 percent of households in these climate vulnerable neighborhoods.
These areas also include a high proportion of children and young people, as well as many women-headed, single-parent households, increasing vulnerability to extreme weather events. Recent flooding has demonstrated the scale of these risks: a January 2021 rainfall event flooded the homes of 933 people in the North and South Gullies, while Hurricane Melissa caused severe damage and triggered nearly $13 million in government funding for emergency repairs across those specific Gullies. Montego Bay and community organizations have already installed flood gauges in some high-risk areas and conduct public education and preparedness activities, including community meetings and awareness campaigns. However, there is currently no system for real-time stormwater monitoring and timely flood warnings, limiting residents’ and authorities’ ability to quickly respond to flooding. Montego Bay’s GCF project will address this gap by strengthening early flood warning systems and helping vulnerable communities prepare for and respond more effectively to flood risks.
