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DATE:
TIME: |
August 21, 2007
12 pm |
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DATE OF EVENT: |
August 20th 2007
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NATURE OF EVENT
The Meteorological Service has downgraded the HURRICANE WARNING for Jamaica to a TROPICAL STORM WARNING as the influence of Hurricane Dean on the island gradually weakens.
At 10:00 a.m. the centre of Hurricane Dean was located near Latitude 17.7 degrees North, Longitude 80.7 degrees west. This is about 420km (260 miles) west southwest of Negril Point, Jamaica.
Dean is now moving westwards near 33 km/h (21 mph) and this general motion is expected to continue over the 24hours. On this track the center of Hurricane Dean is expected to continue to move away from Jamaica today while heading over the extreme northwestern Caribbean Sea.
Maximum sustained winds remain near 240 km/h (150 mph), with higher gusts. Dean remains a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, with the potential of reaching category 5 status later today, before making landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula.
A large mass of showers and strong winds surrounding the network is moving away from the island, however feeder bands continue to spiral into the system and are likely to be dragged across the island with squalls and showers during the morning and early afternoon. Conditions are expected to gradually improve as the day progresses, beginning with eastern parishes.
Casualties
· Two persons are confirmed dead as a result of hurricane Dean. One person died in Clarendon as a result of injuries sustained from a collapsed roof and the other, a fourteen year old (14y-o) girl from Whitehorses St. Thomas, died from injuries sustained from rock damage to her home
CRITICAL FACILITIES
NWA Report Summary
KMR- 10 blocked roads
- 1 Flooded
- 2 reduced to single Lane
Western Region
St. James, Hanover, Westmoreland, Trelawny
- 9 Blocked roads
- 5 roads reduced to single lane traffic
NE Region
- 9 Blocked roads
- 8 open to single lane traffic
WESTMORELAND
- Bog to Content single lane traffic
- Hopeton to Auchindown blocked
- Chestercastle to Jacksongate (Westmoreland end) blocked
- Three Miles single lane traffic
ST. JAMES
- Anchovy to Mount Honeb-Richmond route reduced to single lane traffic; road was cleared by residents
- Chestercastle to Jacksongate (Hanover end) JPS wires down; branches of trees along roadway blocked
- Lethe to Burnt Ground was blocked by a fallen tree
TRELAWNY
Single lane traffic in:
- Rock to Steer Town
- Falmouth to Springvale
- Martha Brae to Kinloss
Work still in progress to fully clear all blocked roads in:
- Rio Bueno to Jackson Town
- Duncans to Long Pond
- Salt Marsh to Kent
- Hamdem to Wakefield
- Deeside to Drumily
PORTLAND
- All arterial (main) roads cleared except Muirton to Fair Prospect (east). Hector’s River to Muirton (Buff Bay section – western)
ST. CATHERINE
- Ewarton to Mt. Diablo open to single lane
- Ocho Rios to Moneague road clear
- Bog Walk open to single lane traffic
ST. ANN
Single lane traffic:
- Priory to Bamboo
- Hopewell to Ocho Rios
- Green Park to St. Ann’s Bay
- Milford to Parry Town, Beachwood Town, Shaw Park (fallen trees)
- Brown’s Town to Bamboo (silt; fallen trees in road)
- Brown’s Town to Alexandria
- Moneague to Blackstonedge
Telecommunications
- Cellular communication remains down in sections of St. Elizabeth, Manchester, Clarendon and sections of Trelawny.
- The ODPEM has still not been able to establish a communication link with the parish of St. Thomas.
Digicel
- Digicel are reporting 70% network coverage islandwide
- Engineers currently working to realign antennas in affected parishes.
- Refueling of power generators.
Airports
- Both major airports are now open
Electricity
The JPS has completed sixty percent (60%) of damage assessment activities to its power system islandwide. Power will be resumed on a phased basis, with critical facilities being given priority. Indications based on preliminary assessment is that the restoration process could take up to several weeks
Power Plants
Seventy Five percent (75%) check of Power Plants completed, preliminary assessment, revealing no significant damage to generating infrastructure. Further tests are currently being carried out to assess timeline for restoration of service.
Fifty percent (55%) check of substations completed, which also indicate no significant damage at this time.
Transmission Lines
Patrols are currently ongoing on transmission lines and distribution lines, which include aerial inspections. Preliminary reports indicate significant damage on the South Coast 69 Kv transmission line.
Region Updates
East and South: severe damage to infrastructure
West and North: Widespread but less severe damage to power distribution infrastructure
Water Supply
All systems affected in varying degrees. Assessment teams are currently in the field ascertaining the level of damage. Major systems affected included:
- Bogue Water Water Treatment (St. Ann)
- Roaring River Water treatment plant
- Bluefields Water Supply system
The following water systems have been reactivated in the following areas:
- Ocho Rios to Montego Bay
- Bullstrode in Westmoreland
- Constant Spring
- Seaview
- Mona
Water supply to the Norman Manley International Airport and Port Royal area has been disrupted due to major damage to the main pipeline serving the area. In the interim arrangements have been made for water to be trucked to the airport. Priority trucking of water has also been arranged for hospitals, health facilities and shelters.
Health
The Ministry of Health through their Emergency Operations Centre continues to monitor the health sector across the island. There have been preliminary reports of damage to health facilities.
Tourism
RESORT AREA: MONTEGO BAY /FALMOUTH
Overall Status
- No major damage to tourism sector reported in Montego Bay
- In Falmouth, few downed trees; the Falmouth Court House received minimal damage; most damages reported were from craft markets
RESORT AREA: KINGSTON
Overall Status
Some damage to the following hotels in New Kingston:
· Courtleigh Hotel
· Pegasus Hotel
· Altamont Court Hotel
Norman Manley International Airport remains closed. The Palisadoes road is blocked and is presently being cleared.
RESORT AREA: OCHO RIOS
Overall Status
No major damage reported to tourism sector. There is no electricity, and hotels, attractions, shops etc, needs this to be reactivated as those who have their own generating capacity are now utilizing this. There is water supply.
RESORT AREA: SOUTHCOAST / MANDEVILLE
Overall Status
- TEOC unable to communicate with the operators in the South Coast
- In Mandeville, trees down, roof damage to houses
RESORT AREA: PORTLAND
Overall Status
- Minimal damages, trees down and water is still available in some areas
- The Manchioneal to Long Bay Road is still single lane
RESORT AREA: NEGRIL
Overall Status
- Minimal damage to properties in this region.
- Few utility poles down.
- West End road was blocked but has since been cleared; most other areas clear.
- Road from Orange Hill to Frome mainly intact.
- There is no water or electricity available; these need to be reactivated as most hotels do not have their own generating capacity
- Negril Craft market no damage to buildings, trees lost a few branches
ACTIONS TAKEN
- EOC continues to be activated
- Resource and Needs list are currently being compiled.
- Periodic parish updates to monitor shelter status
- Security and welfare functional groups developed plans of action for response.
- Rapid Damage Assessment Team dispatched to conduct aerial reconnaissance of damage across island.
- Briefing of Prime Minister
- Clearing of some roadways by the NWA.
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
- Deployment of damage assessment teams
- Continued attempts to re-establish communication links with affected parishes
- Servicing of shelters with water by NWC
- Arrangement of relief distribution for affected communities in St. Thomas
- Arrange of relief distribution for shelters
Initial Damage Assessment
Two Rapid damage assessment teams were deployed to the eastern and western parishes of the island. The teams consisted of representatives from International Red Cross, National Works Agency, National Water Commission, Jamaica Public Service, USAID/OFDA, ODPEM, Digicel and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.
The assessment found that Portland Cottage in the parish of Clarendon and the southern coast of eastern St. Andrew consisting of the coastal areas of Bull Bay,
Shelter Updates
A total of 268 shelters are now opened across the island, housing some 6445 evacuees. These results represent figures gathered as at the time of collation.
