The Event: At 11:00 am July 16, 2005 Eastern Caribbean Time, the center of Hurricane Emily was located near latitude 16.2 north, longitude 77.3 west or about 130 miles SSW of Kingston, Jamaica and about 335 miles SE of Grand Cayman. Emily is once again a Category 4 Hurricane on the Saffir Simpson Scale and is moving WNW near 18 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph with gusts. This general motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours and should bring the centre of Hurricane EMILY south of Jamaica today and near Grand Cayman Island tonight. A Hurricane Warning remains in effect for Jamaica and all of The Cayman Islands.
The Prognosis: Hurricane Emily continues to pose a significant threat to the North Western Caribbean Islands. The island of Jamaica is expected to come under the influence of Hurricane Emily this afternoon and evening; while the Cayman Islands are expected to come under its influence later tonight. All preparations should be rushed to completion.
THE SITUATION
Grenada & Dependencies
The National Disaster Management Agency (NaDMA) has provided the following information.
A debriefing session was held by the National Disaster Coordinator with all District Coordinators. A full report was given by the Coordinator. The under-mentioned reflects their preliminary assessment. A coordination meeting with all stakeholders will be held tomorrow to assess the levels of response of recovery activities.
|
NUMBER OF ROOFS DAMAGED
BY PARISH
| |
| St. George's |
285
|
| St. Andrew's |
1153
|
| St. Patrick's |
499
|
| St. David's |
126
|
| St. John's |
151
|
| St. Mark's |
77
|
| Carriacou & Petit Martinique |
350
|
| TOTAL |
2641
|
NUMBER OF PEOPLE HOMELESS AND IN SHELTERS
| PARISH |
Homeless Families
|
Original # of persons
in shelters
|
People currently in
shelters
|
| St. George's |
8
|
1192
|
72
|
| St. Andrew's |
87
|
2521
|
279
|
| St. Patrick's |
50
|
238
|
178
|
| St. David's |
10
|
10
|
18
|
| St. John's |
2
|
195
|
75
|
| St. Mark's |
10
|
125
|
50
|
| Carriacou and Petit Martinique |
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
| TOTAL |
167
|
4,281
|
672
|
Grenada
The 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. Curfew is still in effect and the Police Department has been deployed throughout the island since Tuesday 12 July 2005 to maintain law and order.
The Airport and Seaport in Georges are open for regular traffic. However the Port in Grenville is still closed.
Both Digicel and Cingular Telecommunications companies shut down their operations temporarily as a precautionary measure but have resumed services since. Cable and Wireless continued to operate throughout. Telecommunications services on the island are working well presently.
Carriacou
The south of the island is the area that received the most damage recording approximately 200 houses with damaged or lost roof. Approximately 50 to 60 of these houses, that are mostly wooden, are severely damaged. A number of outdoor latrines were lost in several areas.
Electricity has not yet been restored to Carriacou & Petit Martinique and a number of electricity poles have been blown down. However, all the roads have been cleared.
There is considerable damage to the agricultural sector.
Jamaica
The ODPEM reported that there are approximately 2,296 persons in shelters across the island as a precautionary measure.
Flooding has been reported in the following communities:
- Bottom Town in Clarkes Town
- Wakefield
- Bunkers Hill
- Jones Hole
- Gravel Hill
Over 100 persons have been evacuated with the assistance of the Trelawny Parish Disaster Committee to the following shelters:
- William Knibb High School
- Campbell's Church
- Unity Primary School
- Alps All Age School
- Jackson Town All Age School
- Cedric Titus High School
CAYMAN ISLANDS
The National Hurricane Committee in Grand Cayman approved the opening of Hurricane Shelters, as a precautionary measure, on Saturday 16 July 2005:
Grand Cayman
1. All shelters except East End Primary School
Cayman Brac
1. Aston Rutty Centre (EMC & public
shelter)
2. West End Primary School
Little Cayman
1. The Public Works Department Building (EMC and public shelter)
All District Administration, Government offices and the Customs Department are closed today Saturday 16 July 2005.
Curfew:
The NHC and the RCIP are considering a curfew for Grand Cayman. The decision will be announced after this afternoon's 4:30 NHC meeting. Meanwhile all residents should be inside their homes for their own safety and security before tropical storm force winds begin affecting the island. Owners of restaurants and licensed premises should prepare to close early tonight in anticipation of the curfew and to ensure that their employees are home safely before 11pm.
Owen Roberts International Airport:
Will close at 7pm tonight (Saturday) and will reopen after the All Clear has been issued. The Gerard Smith Airport on Cayman Brac will remain open as normal until 9:00 pm.
Belize
The National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) has provided the following information;
On the advice of the Chief Meteorologist and the National Emergency Management Organization, the Prime Minister, Hon. Said Musa, has declared the Preliminary Phase of Belize's Hurricane Plan to take effect from 6:00 p.m. yesterday (Friday, July 15, 2005) as Hurricane Emily moves slowly westward in the Caribbean Sea toward the Yucatan Peninsula.
This declaration will allow residents, particularly those living in the offshore islands and the coastal areas of Belize, at least forty-eight hours to prepare for hurricane conditions if it becomes necessary.
All operational committees of NEMO have been activated and are in a state of readiness to take the necessary preparatory measures.
Regional
Status of RRM - Activated at Level 2
OXFAM
Presently in Grenada
PAHO
PAHO Technical Coordinator presently in Grenada.
CDERA CU ACTIONS IN SUPPORT OF GRENADA:
1. The Preparedness & Response Manager of CDERA visited Grenada yesterday (FRIDAY 15 July 2005) and met with the National Disaster Coordinator and other local officials. He toured some of the sites and had a firsthand view of the damage from Emily.
2. Information is being collated and SITREPS being prepared for dissemination
A public version of this SITREP is available at www.cdera.org.
Contact Details:
The CDERA CU 24hr contact number is 246
425 0386
HF Radio: 14.415MHz USB and 7.850MHz USB