Go-Jamaica Weather Watch

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Hurricane watch on
A hurricane watch remains in effect for the island as Hurricane Dean, now a category three storm, continues its path towards the Central Caribbean.

Head of the Weather Branch at the Metereological office Evan Thompson says Jamaica should start to feel the effects of Dean by tomorrow.

Since passing the islands in the Eastern Caribbean, Dean has steadily strengthened throughout the day.
Dean now has top sustained winds of 125 miles per hour.

Disaster committee activated
Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has activated the national disaster committee as the powerful category-three Hurricane Dean heads to Jamaica. Mrs. Simpson Miller made the announcement this afternoon after a meeting with the National Disaster Committee.

The Prime Minister is also appealing for unity among the political parties in responding to the impending disaster. She says all police personnel, soldiers and firefighters on vacation leave are to report to work immediately.

And the administrators of all schools that are designated emergency shelters should be on standby to open them. She says she has given instructions for the National Arena to be opened as an emergency shelter.

The Prime Minister says all police personnel, soldiers and firefighters on vacation leave are to report to work immediately. And the administrators of all schools that are designated emergency shelters should be on standby to open them.

In the meantime Mrs. Simpson Miller says she has given instructions for the National Arena to be opened as an emergency shelter. She also says the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) will be making available 50 buses to transport people to shelters in the corporate area.

And Mrs. Simpson Miller says she has asked Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) leader Bruce Golding to identify a team to work with a team from the PNP to respond to the disaster.

The Prime Minister says the Ministries of Health and Labour and Social Security have been instructed to priorities the welfare of children, the disabled and the elderly. She says she will be convening another meeting of the National Disaster Committee tomorrow to further evaluate the Jamaica’s state of readiness.

NWA preparations on
The National Works Agency (NWA) says it should be able to adequately respond to a crisis in they event of the passage of the hurricane.

According to Communication and Customer Services Manager at the NWA Steven Shaw, in the event of a shortfall of equipment assigned private contractors will be called for assistance.

In the meantime, Mr. Shaw says the island’s major roadways are on the NWA’s prority list.

And the NWC …
The National Water Commission (NWC) is advising persons to begin stocking up on their supplies.

Corporate Communications Manager, Charles Buchanan says the water systems are vulnerable to disruptions during hurricanes.

And the National Irrigation Commission Limited says it will shortly begin shutting down operations of all its facilities island-wide in preparation for the impending hurricane.

The Commission is encouraging customers to store water where possible and secure livestock as required.

ODPEM Relief ready
The Office of Disaster of Preparedness and Emergency (ODPEM) says it has started the process of sticking up on adequate relief supplies.

Director General Ronald Jackson says relief supplies have already been sent to eastern parishes, which could be cut off during the storm:

PM on mandatory evacuation
Turning to the issue of the mandatory removal of people in disaster areas, Mrs. Simpson Miller said her Cabinet is examining the proposed legislation.

According to Local Government Minister Dean Peart, the Bill for the mandatory removal of people has been drafted.

And Mrs. Simpson Miller says it will be tabled in the new Parliament after the election.

Police on Dean
The police say their emergency disaster mechanism has been activated. Deputy Police Commissioner Linval Bailey says divisional commanders in each parish have been advised to mobilize their response plans.

DCP Bailey says key effort will be placed on commercial centres to prevent looting as well as the public shelters. He also says there are considerations to impose curfews in some areas.

Dominica deaths
Two persons were reported killed in Dominica following landslides associated with Hurricane Dean. Steven Dangleben of the Dominica Broadcasting Service reports that several roads are now impassable and the hurricane warning which was in place for the island is to be lifted shortly.