Go-Jamaica Weather Watch

The regular activities in Ocho Rios, St Ann did not depict what was expected of a parish where there are genuine concerns that heavy rains could seriously affect the tourism product.

The capital was busy as usual with persons shopping and enjoying the hospitality of a city mired in tourism.

Fern Gully, an area that suffered much damage at the hands of heavy rain recently, was the only place where there were signs that something was afoot.

Only three craft vendors could be found in the normally well-populated area. One of those vendors said he was watching to see what happened before packing up to go home and admitted that he had made no real preparations for an impending hurricane.

Roy Thomas, the fire service’s district officer, said there had been no reports of any disasters so far, though there was some rain last night. According to him, emergency services were on high alert nonetheless.

There have been sprinkles of rain since 9.30 a.m. this morning in Westmoreland. Reports coming out of the parish suggested that most stations will be opened until around 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. today.

Due to weather conditions associated with Hurricane Gustav, the US Embassy in Kingston has suspended all operations, including visa services, for today, Thursday, August 28, 2008.

Additionally, the embassy will be closed on Monday, September 1, in observance of American Labor Day.

The Bureau of Standards advises that all its offices will be closed to the public immediately as a result of the very likely passage of Hurricane Gustav. 

The public will be advised of the reopening of offices via the electronic media.

The Bureau encourages all Jamaicans to be safe, and to exercise care and consideration for all others during this time.

Over in Manchester there has been very little to report with the exception of persons flocking shops in anticipation of a long battle with the lingering, tropical storm, just off Jamaica’s coast.

According to reports coming out of the parish, disaster coordinators and shelter managers are on high alert but the squalls of rain have not yet caused any alarms.

Due to the threat posed by Tropical Storm Gustav, all activities at the Mona Campus of The University of the West Indies will be suspended at 10 a.m. today,  and the Campus will remain closed tomorrow in the event that Gustav hits Jamaica.

Members of staff should ensure that their departments are secured. Essential services and Emergency operations will remain open.

Special arrangements are being made for students who are resident on campus to remain in hall.

Members of staff who reside on campus are advised that the Assembly Hall will be available as an emergency shelter should the need arise.

Persons needing further information should contact the University switchboard at 927-6110-7 or Safety and Emergency Management at 817-3339 and 977-3339.

As soon as the danger has passed, staff should return to campus to assist in the restoration of normal operations.

All ports and docking stations across the island have been closed as a precautionary measure, due to the threat of Tropical Strom Gustav.

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.

While heavy rains lashed St. Mary last night, the Parish Disaster Coordinator, Yolande Williams, said their has been very little in the way of damage to report.

As of this morning, reports coming out of the parish are that rains have subsided, though the northeastern parish continues to be on the alert.

So far the Annotto Bay High School, where four people have already camped, Port Maria Primary, Port Maria Seventh Day Adventist Church and the Enfield All-Age School have been opened as shelters.

Residents of Old Harbour Bay in St. Catherine, which was battered by hurricane Dean last year, are taking no chances with Gustav just off Jamaica’s eastern shores.

In Station and Peter’s Lane, for instance, residents, use their backs, heads, handcarts, bicycles, motorcars, trucks, and motorcycles, were seen removing their personal possessions to safer ground.

So intense was the morning’s activities that Keisha Wilson, a survivor of hurricane Dean, screamed out, “Mi nah tek nuh chance this year because last year not even di clothes pon mi back the storm lef mi wid and so I am taking no chance this time,” Wilson said.

In another section of the  lane, persons were seen battened down what they could, while others resigned themselves to the almost inevitable battering of the storm.

Lilly Daley, a fish vendor, said she was tired of moving from one place to another, because of hurricanes and simply put, wanted to get help to go ‘anyweh else dan yasso’.

Patricia Lewis, parish disaster coordinator, said her team was on high alert and ready to help in whatever way they could. They have been camping at the St. Catherine Parish Council’s office.

The parish of Portland has been experiencing heavy rainfall since 8.45 p.m. last night 

Conditions worsened with high winds this morning sometime between 4.15 and 4.45 a.m.

Sections of Bryan’s Bay in Portland seem to be receiving the worst of the weather.

The sea along the main road, which leads from Bryan’s Bay into Port Antonio has already overridden the retaining wall and is now dumping sand and debris along the road.

Motorists have been asked to take precautions in the area and have, in fact, been told to take an alternate route through Boundbrook Crescent.

The Manchioneal area of Portland also has a real problem, where at least two houses have lost sections of their roofs. There the sea has also overstepped its boundaries and is threatening to make flooding, which is already occurring worse.

Norwich Primary and Manchioneal All-Age School have already opened for the purposes of sheltering those most affected.

Nobody has been moved yet but as conditions worsen this is expected to happen. 90 per cent of shelters have been reported functional with shelter managers on high alert.

In the meantime, over in St Thomas, there have just been patches of rain and there have been no reports of damages.