Hurricane Omar has been upgraded to category one.

Officials say the storm is now heading across the Caribbean Sea and towards the northeastern tip of the Caribbean island chain.

The Miami based National Hurricane Centre has also issued hurricane warnings for the Dutch Caribbean, the Virgin Islands and St. Kitts.

Omar is expected to cause rainfall of between 4 to 12 inches, enough to cause beach erosion and coastal damage in its targeted areas.

Forecasters are also warning that Omar could move up to a category 2 hurricane by the time it reaches the islands.

The Coast Guard’s Pilot Office told The Gleaner that no ships would be leaving or arriving in the island, as the Tropical Storm still lingers near the island.

Due to the Hurricane Warning that is in effect for Jamaica, the major airports are on alert, as the Sangster International Airport, in Montego Bay will be closed at 2 p.m. today.

Sangster International Airport

Airport officials said they are aware of the threat of the hurricane, but the office remains open because there have been a few changes in both the direction and strength of the natural disaster.

The airport said that depending on the conditions at the time (2 p.m.) the airport would not be closed.

No Decision

There has been no decision made on the closure of the Norman Manley International Airport located in Kingston.

Airport officials have advised The Gleaner that they are uncertain of what will take place, as the airport Directors were still in a meeting.

Reports coming out of the airport suggest a closure, but there has been no official word as to the time the airport will actually be closed.

However, whatever the decision, the public will be advised as soon as possible.

Work to be done….

This drain in Hamilton Gardens, St. Catherine is covered with vegetation. Image by Norman Grindley /Deputy Chief Photographer.

This Gully on Industrial Terrace is in need of cleaning. Image by Junior Dowie / Staff Photographer.

The Duhaney river is rising near to several homes in New Heaven, St. Andrew. Image by Norman Grindley /Deputy Chief Photographer.

The Duhaney river is rising near to several homes in New Heaven, St. Andrew. Image by Norman Grindley /Deputy Chief Photographer.

Work underway…

A tractor driver loads a truck with mud and garbage from the Waterford main drain during a gully cleaning  exercise in Portmore. Image by Norman Grindley /Deputy Chief Photographer.

Mayor of Kingston, Desmond McKenzie third right with the press and members of his party watch clean up begins on Maiden Lane. Image by Junior Dowie / Staff Photographer.

Workmen from the KSAC clear blocked drains along Harbour Street in Kingston.  Image by Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer.

If you have any pictures you would like to share email them to us at pics@gleanerjm.com

Prime Minister of Jamaica defends emergency call
The State of public emergency declared by Governor-General Professor Kenneth Hall on the advice of Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller might be shortlived if electricity is restored before the end of the week.

EDITORIAL – Lift the State of Emergency now
We must express serious concern with the undue haste with which the Government has declared a period of public emergency. The decision to advise the Governor-General to make such a proclamation was made without consultation with the leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP). We believe that a step of such enormous magnitude in the midst of a fiercely contested general election required some consultation. The Prime Minister’s justification for taking this step is presented after the fact and is completely unconvincing.

Canadian, US embassies suspend activities
The Canadian High Commission and the United States Embassy have suspended their services owing to Hurricane Dean.

The west all but escaped – Minimal damage to homes, farms
Except for damage to plant life and low-income homes, Hurricane Dean passed through western Jamaica on Sunday night without leaving behind the type of destruction many persons had feared.

One lane of road to airport cleared
OWING to extensive damage to the Palisadoes main road, in Kingston, caused by the onslaught of Hurricane Dean, only one lane of the highway leading to the Norman Manley International Airport was cleared up to press time last night.

Clean-up under way in Jamaica
The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) began cleaning up the Corporate Area and major towns across the island yesterday in the aftermath of Hurricane Dean, which battered the island on Sunday into Monday morning.

It could take weeks – JPS
Most of the country remained without electricity and water yesterday, following Hurricane Dean, which wreaked havoc upon the island, on Sunday.

Islandwide road update
An early assessment regarding the island’s road network shows that many have been blocked by fallen trees, utility poles and other debris. Yesterday, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management reported that the following roads were blocked:

Crime dampened during ‘Dean’
THE RISE in crime that usually accompanies a natural disaster did not materialise during the passage of Hurricane Dean, according to the police.

Courts overruled by ‘Dean’
With Hurricane Dean battering the island on Sunday, several persons who turned up yesterday to hear their cases in the various courts sitting in St. Catherine, were told to return later this week as none of the courts were in session.

No ‘Olive’ branch from ‘Dean’ – Tamarind Tree family stripped of possessions
Six-year-old Sarah Johnson was looking forward to attending the Gordon Town All-Age School for the first time when school re-opens September 3, but now her books and bag for the new term have all been destroyed.

Man dies in stormy accident
Hurricane Dean has reportedly claimed the life of at least one person in Manchester.

‘Dean’ takes down hospital fence – Staff afraid to walk grounds
The perimeter fence at the Spanish Town hospital was torn down by the heavy winds associated with Hurricane Dean on Sunday, leaving hospital staff scared to walk the compound to carry out their duties.

Massive numbers in St Ann shelters
Strong winds and heavy rainfall associated with Hurricane Dean forced almost 1,000 residents of St. Ann to seek refuge in the 25 shelters now in operation across the parish.

Farmers hit hard
While it is too early to determine the extent of the loss suffered by the island’s agricultural sector, following the passage of Hurricane Dean, farmers will need substantial aid to recover.

Registration centres to open islandwide today
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security will today open registration centres across the island for persons affected by Hurricane Dean.

‘Dean’ destroys Rodney’s Arm
SCORES OF curious onlookers turned up along the Port Henderson Road in Portmore, St. Catherine, yesterday, not for the usual fish, lobster and other goodies usually on offer, but rather to see the devastation of Rodney’s Arm, a popular dining and entertainment location.

Mixed bag at Sabina Park – North stand fends off ‘Dean’ – Kingston club bowled over
The historic Kingston Cricket Club, located at Sabina Park, in central Kingston, had its entire roof destroyed by Hurricane Dean, on Sunday.

… Trelawny stadium stands up
While the uprooted trees to the side showed signs of the impact of the hurricane, except for a few broken decorative lights, the US$30 Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium in Falmouth was left unscathed by Hurricane Dean.

KSAC opens shelters
Twenty shelters in the Corporate Area have been opened by the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC), in light of the impending passage of Hurricane Dean that is expected tohit the island this afternoon.

Fishers come ashore
WESTERN BUREAU: As the island braces for Hurricane Dean, members of the fishing industry are reporting a 100 per cent state of readiness in the event of its passage. Stakeholders within the fishing industry have created a structured action plan to reduce the cost of damage.

Ministry urges farmers to exercise extreme caution
In light of the threat posed by Hurricane Dean, the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands is advising all animal owners to exercise extreme caution to safeguard human life and livestock.

‘Dean’ could postpone voting of security forces
If damage associated with dangerous category Four Hurricane Dean is catastrophic, the security forces may not vote on Tuesday as planned.

Jamaicans stranded in Cayman
Jamaicans hoping to return home from Grand Cayman before Hurricane Dean, which is expected to hit that island on Monday, will have to wait until the storm blows over because of the absence of available flights.