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Last Updated: Oct 8th, 2008 - 15:44:33 |
Hurricane Watch issued for Jamaica August 26, 2008, 1100 hrs (11:00 a.m.) EDT
ADVISORY # 1
The Event: At 0800hrs EDT (8:00 a.m.) EDT, the center of Hurricane Gustav was located near latitude 17.5 N North and longitude 72.0 West, or about about 75 miles (or 120 km) South-Southeast of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and about 265 miles (or 424 km) Southeast of Guantanamo, Cuba.
The Prognosis: Gustav is a Category One hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 25 miles (or 35 km) from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 70 miles (or 110 km).
Gustav is moving toward the Northwest near 9 mph (or 15 km/hr), and this motion is expected to continue today with a turn toward the West-Northwest and a decrease in forward speed forecast on Wednesday. The hurricane could become a Category Two hurricane before making landfall in Haiti later today.
Gustav is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 4 to 7 inches over Jamaica, with isolated maximum amounts of up to 15 inches possible. These rains may produce life-threatening flash floods and mud slides. Coastal storm surge flooding of 2 to 4 feet above normal tide levels can be expected near and to the East of where the center makes landfall.
National Response: Jamaica
The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has advised the Jamaican public that Jamaica has been placed on Hurricane Watch as Hurricane Gustave continues to strengthen.
The ODPEM has fast-tracked its emergency preparedness activities, including:
- The subcommittees of the National Response Team (NRT) will meet today to discuss preparatory and response plans to Gustav. These subcommittees are Damage Assessment, Recovery and Rehabilitation, Shelter and Welfare, Telecommunications, Emergency Operations and Transportation, Public Information, and Finance and Administration. The National Response Team (NRT) will meet afterwards.
- The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) will be activated at a Level One activation throughout today, but could see a scaling up of the level of activation by later tonight.
- A list of priority shelters will be published later this morning. Shelter managers have already been alerted to the threat of Gustav.
- The public has been advised to monitor radios and televisions for further advisories and to avoid areas that are at risk from flooding and landslides.
- The public has also been advised to take precautions in the event of heavy rains.
Regional Response: The Regional Response Mechanism (RRM) has been placed on standby.
CDERA Coordinating Unit is communicating with ODPEM and communication checks are being undertaken at the CDERA CU.
Next Advisory: CDERA will continue to monitor the situation and provide advisories as necessary.
Contact Details: The CDERA CU 24hr contact number is 246 425 0386
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