Caribbean: Hurricane Emily OCHA Situation Report No. 1

Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2005/0109

OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Hurricane Emily - The Caribbean
15 July 2005

This message is not an official hurricane warning or alert for any country.

1. As of 15 July Hurricane Emily moved away from the Windward islands and is moving west towards the Gulf of Mexico. Maximum sustained winds have increased and reached near 215 km/hr with higher gusts.

2. Hurricane Emily struck Grenada on Thursday, 14 July, where it caused significant damage, especially in the northern parishes of St. Patrick's and St. Andrew's and the outlying islands of Carriacou and Petit Martinique. The crops, buildings, water and electricity systems were badly affected. Several roads were blocked by landslides and overflowing rivers. The destruction comes as the country is still recovering from last year's devastating hurricane Ivan.

3. According to IFRC assessment, the immediate needs in Grenada are for temporary shelter, water, hygiene supplies, first aid kits, and possibly food. In the longer term there will be a need for rehabilitation and repair of housing. On 15 July, IFRC issued an emergency appeal for the Caribbean: Hurricanes Dennis and Emily seeking USD 587,505 in cash, kind or services to assist 35,000 beneficiaries for 3 months.

4. In Grenada, The National Emergency Advisory Council is meeting on 15 July in the afternoon and will provide an updated report immediately after. The Prime Minister conducted an aerial reconnaissance of the country this morning with the assistance of the Trinidad & Tobago Defense Force.

5. In Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, which were also hit by Emily, there appear to be only minimal needs reported that are being addressed by their respective governments and local international community.

6. As of today, the following warnings/watches were in effect:

7. The Governments of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands have issued a hurricane warning and Haiti, Dominican Republic, Venezuela and the Dutch islands of Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire has issued tropical storm warnings

8. OCHA is in close contact with the Offices of the UN Resident Coordinator in Barbados, Jamaica and Haiti and will revert with further information as required.

9. For tracking and further information, please refer to the Website of the National Hurricane Service in Miami at www.nhc.noaa.gov, and www.solar.ifa.hawaii.edu/Tropical/Gif/atl.latest.gif.

10. This situation report, together with further information on ongoing emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int

Caribbean: Hurricane Emily - Situation map

Telephone: +41-22-917 12 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:

Mr. Dusan Zupka, Mr. Ricardo Mena, Ms.Charlotta Benedek
direct Tel. +41-22-917 16 45, 917 14 55, 917 1205
E-mail: zupka@un.org, menar@un.org, benedek@un.org

Press contact:

(GVA) Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, Direct Tel. +41-22-917 2653
(N.Y.) Ms. Stephanie Bunker, Direct Tel. +1-917-892 1669