Ronald Jackson told The Gleaner this morning that there are several reports of the loss of lives but the ODPEM has not been able to confirm the reports.

“We have unconfirmed reports that 10 people have died but of that number we have found only one body,” Jackson said.

Two deaths have been reported in Gordon Town, St. Andrew. There are also reports of one death in Llandewey, St Thomas, where a man was washed away in a car. A search has been launched for a female victim.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding, who is head of the national disaster committee, said on radio today that there are reports of at least 11 deaths in the country.

Meanwhile, ODPEM has reported that 1520 persons are in 76 emergency shelters. ODPEM has also reported extensive flooding over the eastern end of the island.

The meteorological service this morning said that although the centre of Gustav is about to move away from Jamaica, bands of showers extend 200 km east of the island. It said that periods of heavy rainfall and strong, gusty winds are should continue throughout today.

Reports:

Flooding:-
· The McGregor Gully in the Vineyard Town area has overflowed its bank resulting in widespread flooding in the area
· Sections of Deanery Road are currently experiencing flooding
· Reports of flooding in Real Avenue in Harbour have been received
· The communities of barbican and Havendale in St. Andrew are also reporting incidents of flooding

Landslide:-
· Landslides have been reported in Cooper’s Ridge and Gordon Town in Upper St. Andrew
· A dwelling place in Cornfield, Papine has been disjointed as a result of a landslide in the area
· 2 houses in the Tavern Drive area of Kintyre have been washed into the nearby river due to landslippage.

Actions:-
Agencies’ response is currently underway to rescue persons trapped in flooded communities.

Shelters:-
There are currently 44 opened shelters housing a total of 920 persons, predominantly in the parish of St. Thomas

The public is being urged to continue monitoring radios and televisions for further advisories and to avoid areas that are at risk from flooding and landslides. Also take the following precautions in the event of heavy rains:

1. Avoid flooded waterways, gullies, streams or rivers, either on foot or in vehicles.
2. Be ready to evacuate if you live in low-lying or flood-prone areas.
3. Decide on likely evacuation routes now. Plan to stay with family or friends in safer areas or in a public shelter and move to safety.
4. Take the following with you if you must go to a shelter:
§ Blankets and extra clothing; Medication; 24 hours’ supply of non-perishable food and water and a can opener; toilet articles such as toilet tissue and soap; portable radio, flashlights and batteries; First Aid Kit.
5. Wrap important personal items, family documents, and electrical appliances in plastic bags and store away from the reach of floodwaters.
6. All small craft operators, including fishers from the cays and banks, are advised to secure their vessels and remain in safe harbour until all warning messages have been lifted and wind and sea conditions have returned to normal.

The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), headquartered at the ODPEM’s offices at 12 Camp Road, Kingston 4, continues to be activated and closely monitoring the progress of T.S. Gustav.

Reports
·    The Jamaican Urban Transit Company is advising the public that its buses will be pulled from their routes beginning at 11:00am today
·    NROC, operators of the toll roads has advised that all Toll Booths will be opened at 12:00 noon
·    Given the current situation, evacuation orders have been issued for the areas on the attached sheet.

Hurricane Safety Tips
The public is being urged to continue monitoring radios and televisions for further advisories and to avoid areas that are at risk from flooding and landslides. Also take the following precautions in the event of heavy rains:

1.    Avoid flooded waterways, gullies, streams or rivers, either on foot or in vehicles.
2.    Be ready to evacuate if you live in low-lying or flood-prone areas.
3.    Decide on likely evacuation routes now. Plan to stay with family or friends in safer areas or in a public shelter and move to safety.
4.    Wrap important personal items, family documents, and electrical appliances in plastic bags and store away from the reach of floodwaters.
5.    All small craft operators, including fishers from the cays and banks, are advised to secure their vessels and remain in safe harbour until all warning messages have been lifted and wind and sea conditions have returned to normal.

The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), headquartered at the ODPEM’s offices at 12 Camp Road, Kingston 4, continues to be activated and closely monitoring the progress of T.S. Gustav.

1.   Passagefort Gospel Assembly, 2.    Passagefort  Football Field
 

Westchester Portmore HEART Academy  

1.    Westchester Community Centre, 2.  Edgewater Baptist Church
 

Portsmouth Gregory Park Primary and Junior High 

1.    Portsmouth Primary School,  Waterford Southborough Primary School, 2.  Waterford Infant School,

3.   Waterford Primary, 4.    Waterford High School

 Independence City  Southborough Primary 

1.    Passagefort Gospel Assembly , 2.    Passagefort Football Field
 

Hellshire Hellshire United 
 Edgewater Portmore HEART Academy  1.    Edgewater Baptist Church
 Port Henderson Portsmouth Primary School 1.    Bayside New Testament Church
 

Bridgeview Portmore HEART Academy      

 1. Edgewater Community Centre
 

Bridgeport/Westport Portmore HEART AcademyWestport Housing Corp. Ltd 

1.  Bridgeport High School
 

West Bay/Port Henderson Portmore HEART Acadmey 

1. New Testament Church of God
 

Southborough Naggos Head Primary School 

1. Southborough Community Centre
 Gregory Park Gregory Park Primary

 1. Caymanas Track Parking lot (Main Gate)
 Christian Pen, Lesser Portmore, Hamilton Gardens, Watson Grove Gregory Park Primary and Junior High 

1. Gregory Park All Age School

Trelawny Hague  

Hague Primary 
 Zion Holland High School 
 Clarkes Town Cedric Titus High School 
 Salt Marsh Salt Marsh All Age School 
 Wakefield Wakefield Primary 
 Bunkers Hill Unity Primary School  
 
St. Catherine Old Harbour Bay 

Old Harbour Bay High School 
 Bushy ParkNightingale Grove Old Harbour High School  
 Old Harbour and its environs Old Harbour Primary School 

 KSAC Bull Bay St. Benedicts Church 
 Bull Bay  7 & 8 Miles St. Benedicts Church 
 Bull Bay 9 & 10 Friendship Brook 
 Bull Bay 11 & 12 Bull Bay Primary 
 Caribbean Terrace and its environs Harbour View Primary School 
  Port Royal Harbour View Primary School Port Royal Square

St. Thomas Duhaney Pen 

Morant Bay Primary School 
 Spring Field Morant Bay Primary School 
 Bamboo River Morant Bay Primary School 
   
 St. Thomas Friendship Pen 

Morant Bay Primary School 
 Church Corner Morant Bay Primary School 
 Johnson River Paul Bogle High School 
 Morant Bay Paul Bogle High School 
 York (Lower) Paul Bogle High School 
 Cottage Pen Paul Bogle High School 
 York (Upper) Seaforth 
 Blacksmith Lane Seaforth 
 Riverside Seaforth 
 Woodburn Grants Pen Primary 
 Marine Drive Grants Pen Primary 
 Spring Garden Grants Pen Primary 
 Capture Land (East Albion) Grants Pen Primary 

Clarendon Portland Cottage 

Portland Cottage Primary 
 Rocky Point Bustamante High School/ Vere Technical High 
 Mitchell Town Vere Technical High/ Bustamante High School 
   
Westmoreland   

Broughton Primary 
   Cave SDA Church 
   Ferris Primary Ricketts River
   Frome High Ricketts River
   George’s  Plain SDA Church Ricketts River
   George’s Plain Primary Ricketts River
   Godfrey Stewart High Wharf Rd
   Little Bay All Age Wharf Rd
   Little London High Wharf Rd
   Little London Primary Wharf Rd
   Manning’s School Wharf Rd
   Mearnsville All Age Wharf Rd
   Negril All Age Wharf Rd
 
St. Elizabeth Big wood 

Newell Primary School 
 Treasure Bull Savannah Primary 
 Bull Savannah Bull Savannah Primary School 
 Black River High School Black River High School 
 Holland Bamboo Holland Primary School 

Manchester 

Alligator Pond Alligator Pond 
 
THE NATIONAL ARENA WILL NOT BE OPEN – MOTORISTS ARE BEING ASKED TO MAKE THEIR WAY VIA THE PRIORTY ROUTES IDENTIFIED TO TAKE THEM OUT OF PORTMORE.  PERSONS SHOULD FIRST STAY WITH RELATIVES AND FRIENDS OUTSIDE THE AREA.  RESIDENTS WHO HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE HOUSING ARRANGEMENTS WILL MOVE TO THE NEAREST ASSEMBLY POINT WHERE THEY WILL BE PICKED UP BY THE JUTC BUSES OR MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE NEAREST SHELTER

Area of operation Parish Telephone Number

ODPEM Switchboard Kingston 928-5111/4
ODPEM Switchboard Kingston 938-2525/6
ODPEM Switchboard Kingston 938-2550/1
EOC Straight line Kingston 930-0660/1
ODPEM Digiline Kingston 618-5637/44
St. Ann EOC St. Ann 794-9331/2972-2373972-2615/6
St. Mary EOC St. Mary 994-2178
St. Thomas EOC St. Thomas 982-9449982-9366982-2227
St. Elizabeth EOC St. Elizabeth 965-2256965-2267
St. James EOC St. James 952-5500
Trelawny EOC Trelawny 954-3228954-3970
Westmoreland EOC Westmoreland 955-2655955-2798
Hanover EOC Hanover 956-2236956-2947956-2305956-2173
Manchester EOC Manchester 962-2278/9
Clarendon EOC Clarendon 986-2216986-2234
St. Catherine EOC St. Catherine 984-3111/2
Portland EOC Portland 993-2665993-2765
Portmore EOC St. catherine 740-0789740-7440/2

St. Ann

1. Concord Catholic Church
2. Ocho Rios High School
3. St. Ann’s Bay Primary School
4. Steer Town Primary and Junior High School

St. Mary

1. Mount Joseph Primary School
2. Port Maria S.D.A Church
3. Baxter Mount Primary School
4. Enfield Primary and Junior High school
5. Port Maria High School
6. Annotto bay High School

Portland

1. Windsor All Age School
2. Comfort Castle Primary and Junior High School
3. Fellowship Primary and Junior High School
4. Norwich Primary School
5. Titchfield High School
6. Salvation Army Church Port Antonio

Procedures for Registration Centres

The ODPEM through its National Disaster Welfare Response Programme is advising the public that it will be initiating a new system for assessment of the impact of affected persons and determination of beneficiaries for government welfare scheme.  The following steps outline the procedure that will govern welfare assistance:

1. Schools will remain the primary registration centre for individuals or families affected
2. Within a day or two after the impact the ODPEM and the Met Office will give the all clear signal
3. Registration will commence after the all clear signal and will run for approximately three (3) days
4. The list of persons assessed will be verified against the Program for Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH); National Council for Senior Citizens; Combined Disabilities Association; Rural Agricultural Development Authority; and Fisheries Division programmes.

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has reported that two persons were confirmed dead from the parishes of Clarendon and St. Thomas.

Blocked roads

ODPEM says that a number of blocked roads have been reported from the Kingston Metropolitan Area, Western and Northeastern sections of the island, details of which are as follows:

Westmoreland:
·    Single lane traffic from Bogue to Content
·    Hopeton to Auchin Town blocked
·    Chestercastle to Jacksongate (Westmoreland end) blocked
·    Single lane traffic in the Three Miles area

St. James:
·    Anchovy to Mount Honeb is impassable and the Richmond route is reduced to single lane traffic.
·    Downed JPS wires from Chestercastle to Jacksongate (Hanover end)

Trelawny:
Single lane traffic from:
·    Rock to Steer Town
·    Falmouth to Springvale
·    Martha Brae to Kinloss
Work is currently in progress to clear all blocked roads from:
·    Rio Bueno to Jackson Town
·    Duncans to Long Pond
·    Salt Marsh to Kent
·    Hamdem to Wakefield
·    Deeside to Drumily

Portland:
·    All main roads have been cleared except roadways from Muirton to Fair Prospect and Hector’s River to Muirton in Buff Bay.

St. Catherine:
·    The Bog Walk area and roads from Ewarton to Mount Diablo are open to single lane traffic.

St. Ann
Single lane traffic:
·    From Priory to Bamboo
·    Hopewell to Ocho Rios
·    Green Park to St. Ann’s Bay
·    Milford to Parry Town
·    Brown’s Town to Bamboo
·    Brown’s Town to Alexandria
·    Moneague to Blackstonedge

SHELTERS:
Earlier today 268 shelters remained open across the island, housing some 6,445 persons. This number is expected to decrease as persons return to their respective homes.

AIRPORTS:
The roadway leading to the Norman Manley airport is now open to single lane traffic and the airport is currently accommodating emergency flights only. Full operations should resume tomorrow. At the other end of the island, the Donald Sangster Airport has re-opened to the public.

COORDINATION OF RELIEF SUPPLIES:
The National Welfare Sub-committee has met and is seeking to establish registration centres for the impacted communities. These registration centres will be located at Seven-Day Adventist Churches island-wide and other soon to be named locations. Emergency distribution of critical relief supplies has commenced and is being coordinated through the Parish Disaster Committee.

Go-Jamaica Hurricane Dean Watch will continue printing ODPEM updates.

1. Stay tuned to the news and weather reports and listen out for emergency instructions, if any should be given.

2. Remain calm. Do not panic. Your ability to act logically is important during stressful events like a hurricane.

3. Wrap important documents such as passports, deeds and titles, birth certificates, ID cards, insurance policies in plastic and take them with you.

4. Ensure that adequate water is stored for domestic purposes.

5. Move furniture away from windows.

6. Check your arrangements for household pets. If you have made arrangements for them to be kept elsewhere, take them there now. If they are staying with you, make sure they have adequate food and water.

7. If your roof should come off and if the house or building shows signs of breaking up get in the closet or the bathtub and pull the mattress over your body for protection.

8. If you are away from home remain where you are until the storm has passed. Many people lose their lives trying to get from place to place during a hurricane.

9. There will be a brief period of calm weather. This is called the eye of the hurricane. It usually lasts for only a short while – from a few minutes to half and hour or more – and the winds return from the opposite direction. Please do not be fooled into thinking that the storm is over. Remain inside.