Volume 5
Number 3
August, 2007HURRICANE DEAN IN THE CARIBBEAN
The following News stories are from sources in the Caribbean:
FROM the BBC-CARIBBEAN, 8/18/07:
In St. Lucia, Martinique and Dominica, authorities are counting the cost
of the damage inflicted by Hurricane Dean. The storm strengthened to a
Cat. 4 hurricane after roaring through the eastern Caribbean region. It is
expected to strengthen to Cat. 5.
Parts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic are on Tropical Storm Warning
and Hurricane Watch. A Hurricane Watch is in effect in Jamaica, that is
expected to be updated to a warning. The Tropical Storm Watch in place
for Puerto Rico and The British and US Virgin Islands has been lifted.
St. Lucian authorities have confirmed that 2 people were killed. The storm
struck at about 2:30 AM Friday morning. The fierce winds tore corrugated
roofs from dozens of homes and tore the roof from the pediatric ward of
the main hospital in the capital of Castries. There was also much flooding
with many boats blown inland.
In Martinique, RADIO CARAIBE reports that many roofs had been torn
from houses and flooding was a serious problem. More than 100,000
people are without power, although power has been restored in the
capital of Fort de France. Many Martiniquans took shelter in their bath-
rooms after roofs and windows disappeared in the winds. An elderly
man died of a heart attack during the storm.
According to the Associated Press, in Dominica, a woman and her 7-
year-old son were killed when a rain-soaked hillside gave way and
crushed the home where they were sleeping. Authorities are still
assessing the extent of damage.
From The JAMAICA GLEANER, 8/18/07:
Jamaica is on Hurricane Watch, soon to be updated to a Warning. It is
expected to move directly over the island in the afternoon of 8/19.
Prime Minister Portia Simpson recalled all emergency personnel on
leave and urged shelter managers to be ready. "We would like to call on
everyone to now begin to put in place all the necessary precautionary
measures to protect life and property", she said.
The director of the Disaster Preparedness office said the vulnerable
eastern parishes of St. Thomas and Portland would be given added
attention.
From the BARBADOS NATION News:
Some beach-front properties were damaged by the storm surge from
Dean, while in St. Philip at least one house slipped off its props and
another lost a roof. In St. John, banana trees were felled, while in
Christ Church utility poles were downed or leaning. There were no
deaths or injuries, and less than 50 people utilised the shelters.
From ARAWAKROOTS News:
The British and US Virgin Islands received a fair amount of rain and
wind gusts up to 40 mph, but were spared any major damage. We will
have an update from our reporters in the field soon.
UPDATE-11PM 8/18/07
HURRICANE WARNINGS Are now posted for the entire island of Jamaica,
the south coast of Hispaniola and the Cayman Islands. Hurricane
Dean is expected to arrive over Jamaica mid-day to early evening
Sunday 8/19 and over Grand Cayman Island late Sunday evening into
early Monday morning 8/20.
This report generated from ARAWAKROOTS HURRICANE CENTER.
UPDATE-11AM 8/19/07
IN JAMAICA, authorities have closed airports and imposed curfews.
The government has converted schools, churches and the indoor
sports arena into emergency shelters.
IN GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Airways has put 15 extra flights from the
Cayman Islands to Florida as thousands flee.
IN CUBA, tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from
coastal areas and tourist programs suspended. Tropical Storm
Warnings and a Hurricane Watch are posted.
IN COZUMEL, a Hurricane Watch has been posted, even though the
storm is more than 50 hours away. The government is evacuating
thousands of tourists and shutting down oil production.
IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, high rough seas damaged buildings on
the coast, and a boy was reported drowned and several injured in
Santo Domingo.
IN HAITI, on the island of Gonave, thousands of people are with-
out electricity and have taken refuge in churches and schools.
IN MARTINIQUE, damage caused by Hurricane Dean is estimated to
be $200 million. The damage to banana plantations here and in
St. Lucia and Dominica is worse than originally reported.
This report was generated by the ARAWAKROOTS HURRICANE CENTER.
UPDATE-11PM 8/19/07
The northern eyewall of Hurricane Dean brushed against the
south-central coast of Jamaica at approx. 9PM AST and is now
moving away from the south-western coast and moving out to
sea on a path that will take the hurricane's eye just south
of Grand Cayman Island. It is expected to reach Cat. 5
before arriving on the Yucatan coastline of Mexico.
In Kingston, sustained winds of 114mph were recorded with
peak gusts reaching 138mph. A storm surge of over 30 ft. has
been recorded along the south coast of the island. Damage
reports are slow to come in due to communication failures in
this part of the island. However, reports are coming in from
the northern part of Jamaica of structural and roof damage
in Montego Bay due to gusts over 100 mph.
Eight deaths are now attributed to Hurricane Dean.
This report generated by the ARAWAKROOTS HURRICANE CENTER
UPDATE 11PM 8/20/07
KINGSTON, JAMAICA- Jamaicans awoke to devastation in the
aftermath of Hurricane Dean, whose outer bands ploughed
through southern parishes claiming one life and damaging the
infra-structure. Police also report 3 deaths but can't
confirm they are hurricane related. The hurricane's eye passed
50 miles from the south coast.
The eastern parish of St. Thomas was hardest hit. Communica-
tions are done, roads are impassable and reports of looting are
coming in. Reports from Mandeville report a man killed when his
car was thrown against a utility pole by the winds. Across the
island, power lines were felled and poles snapped. Many trees
were downed by the heavy rains and gusts peeled off roofs.
Billboards and signs and sections of buildings were flattened.
Over 5000 people sought refuge in 231 shelters throughout the
island.
In the parish of Portland, several homes were completely de-
stroyed and the road betwen Long Bay and Manchioneel is im-
passable due to downed trees and poles. Caribbean Terrace, in
East Kingston was walloped by storm surges as high as 50 feet.
A car was hoisted onto a retaining wall (see photo), proving
the extremely dangerous water levels.
Stay tuned to this page for more updates.
Volume 5