The Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers are active in over 181 countries.
In Brief
This Bulletin (no. 01/2005) is being issued for information only, and reflects the status of the situation and information available at this time. The Federation is not seeking funding or other assistance from donors for this operation at this time.
The Situation
Tropical Storm Emily has formed in the eastern Caribbean Sea and is moving towards the Caribbean's Windward Islands. Emily is moving west near 32 kilometres per hour (20 miles per hour) and is expected to reach the Windward Islands by late Wednesday, 13 July. The storm has maximum sustained winds near 85 kilometres per hour, with hour gusts, and has the potential to become a hurricane before making landfall.
Hurricane warnings have been issued for Barbados, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. A tropical storm warning and hurricane watch has been issued for the island of Tobago in Trinidad and Tobago. In addition, the government of France has issued a tropical storm warning for Martinique. A hurricane or tropical storm warning means that hurricane or tropical storm conditions are expected within 24 hours. A hurricane or tropical storm watch means that hurricane or tropical storm conditions are expected within 36 hours. Other countries in the region are likely to issue similar warnings shortly.
Red Cross and Red Crescent action
In Dominica, the Dominica Red Cross Society has alerted its branches to the possible impact of Tropical Storm Emily and has convened a meeting of all disaster response volunteers. A review was also conducted of damage and needs assessments, and HF communication was tested with the Antigua and Barbuda Red Cross Society. Emergency supplies were restocked earlier in the year.
The St. Lucia Red Cross is on alert and will attend the National Disaster Committee meeting tomorrow. Four National Intervention Teams (NITs), four Community Disaster Response Teams (CDRTs) and two branch teams are on alert. Memoranda of Understanding for food supplies are already in place with major suppliers, and relief stocks are available in the National Society warehouse, including: 300 blankets, 400 cots, 700 jerry cans, 800 tarps and assorted clothing.
The Grenada Red Cross Society is on alert and is in attendance at the Grenada National Disaster Committee meeting. Stocks of 600 blankets, 2,000 jerry cans, 50 cots, 100 tarps and 10 generators are in place at the National Society warehouse.
The Antigua and Barbuda Red Cross has reviewed their disaster and contingency plans, and has met with the National Disaster Office. Some 100 volunteers have been placed on alert. Stocks of 1,000 tarps, 3,000 blankets, and a limited quantity of comfort kits and lanterns are in stock at the National Society warehouse. Memoranda of Understanding for food supplies are already in place with major suppliers.
The Pan American Disaster Response Unit (PADRU), located in Panama, is maintaining constant communication with the National Societies in the countries likely to be affected. Several disaster management delegates are already in the region supporting relief operations in response to Hurricane Dennis, which passed through the Caribbean last week, and will be deployed to the affected countries, as needed. PADRU is also preparing shipments of relief goods to be shipped to the affected countries, as needed.
For further information specifically related to this operation please contact:
In Antigua and Barbuda: Gerald Pryce, Director General of Antigua and Barbuda Red Cross; email redcross@candw.org
In Dominica: Kathleen Pinard-Byrne, Director General of Dominica Red Cross Society; email redcross@cwdom.dm
In Grenada: Terry Charles, Director General of Grenada Red Cross Society; email crercs@caribsurf.com
In St. Lucia: Hubert Pierre, Disaster Preparedness Coordinator, St Lucia Red Cross; email sluredcross@caribsurf.com
In Panama: Nelson Castaño, Head of Pan American Disaster Response Unit, Panama City; email ifrcpa07@ifrc.org, phone (507) 316-1001, fax (507) 316-1082
In Geneva: Luis Luna, Federation Regional Officer, Americas Department, Geneva; email luis.luna@ifrc.org, phone (41 22) 730-4274, fax (41 22) 733-0395
All International Federation assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO's) in Disaster Relief and is committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (Sphere) in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable.
For longer-term programmes in this or other countries or regions, please refer to the Federation's Annual Appeal. For support to or for further information concerning Federation programmes or operations in this or other countries, or for national society profiles, please also access the Federation's website at http://www.ifrc.org