Caribbean: Hurricane Emily OCHA Situation Report No. 3

Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2005/0114

OCHA Situation Report No. 3
Hurricane Emily - The Caribbean
18 July 2005

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

1. At 15:00 UTC, the center of Hurricane Emily was located near latitude 21.8 North, longitude 88.6 West, or about 540 miles/870 Km east-southeast of La Pesca, Mexico, and about 575 miles/925 Km east-southeast of Brownsville, Texas. Emily is moving toward the West-Northwest near 17 MPH/28 Km/HR with maximum sustained winds near 100 MPH/160 Km/HR with higher gusts, which makes it now a category two hurricane.

2. A hurricane watch remains in effect from Cabo Rojo, Mexico to Baffin Bay, Texas. The hurricane warning for the Yucatan Peninsula from Cabo Catoche southward has been discontinued.

Situation in Grenada

3. Based on information provided by the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA), the French Red Cross, and Oxfam, the south of the island (Carriacou) is the hardest hit area. Considerable damage is reported in the agricultural sector.

4. The Airport and Seaport in Saint Gorges are open to regular traffic. The Port in Greenville, however, remains closed. Electricity has not yet been restored to Carriacou and Petit Martinique. Telecommunications services are working well throughout the island. Minor damages reported to the road network, particularly in Saint David and in Antoine Bay.

5. Relief assistance has been airlifted by the IFRC including hygiene kits, plastic sheeting, first aid kits, and jerry cans. The plane also carried UNICEF emergency items.

Situation in Jamaica

6. Four people were killed as a result of flooding affecting several parishes, particularly Trelawny, Saint Catherine, Saint James, Manchester and Saint Elizabeth. No major material damages are reported.

7. According to the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), 2,296 persons were housed in temporary shelters across the island.

Situation in Mexico

8. According to Civil Protection of Mexico, close to 100,000 persons, including several thousand tourists have been evacuated to safer areas in the States of Quintana Roo, Yucatán and Campeche.

9. OCHA remains in close contact with the Offices of the UN Resident Coordinator in Barbados (covering Grenada), and Mexico and will revert with further information as required.

10. 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.

11. 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 (created for OCHA situation report no. 1)

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. Ricardo Mena, Ms.Charlotta Benedek
direct Tel. +41-22-917 14 55, 917 1205
E-mail: 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