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Hurricane alert
published: Wednesday | July 6, 2005

John Myers Jr., Staff Reporter


THE ISLAND has been placed on a hurricane watch as Tropical Storm Dennis continues to increase in strength and intensity while moving closer to the island. A hurricane watch means that the island could be affected by hurricane conditions within the next 36 hours.
Last night, Dr. Barbara Carby, director-general of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), said the National Emergency Response Team had been placed on alert in preparation for the storm.
NATURAL SYSTEM
Dr. Carby called on parish disaster coordinators across the island to open emergency shelters that are in good condition, if necessary. "Everybody needs to be prepared because we are dealing with a natural system and even though they try to forecast the movement, we never know exactly what will happen. The entire country needs to be prepared," Dr. Carby emphasised.
The National Meteorological Service said last night that Tropical Storm Dennis was moving towards the west-northwest near 26 kilometres per hour and was expected to continue in this general motion over the next 24 hours.
At 7:00 p.m. yesterday, the centre of the storm was located near latitude 14.3 degrees north and 68.5 degrees west. This is about 900 kilometres east-south-east of Morant Point, St. Thomas.
"Maximum sustained winds have increased to 75 kilometres per hour with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours and the tropical storm could further develop into a hurricane today or tomorrow," the Met Service said in a bulletin issued at 8:00 p.m. last night. Tropical storm force winds extend up to 95 kilometres outward from the centre.
Based on the current projected path of Tropical Storm Dennis, the Met Service said the centre of the weather system was forecast to pass just off the north-eastern coast of Jamaica early Thursday morning, after passing south of Hispaniola last night into today. As a result, the island is expected to start experiencing deteriorating weather conditions from as early as this morning.
Bands of showers, thunderstorms and gusty winds associated with the system extend over 500 kilometres from the centre and are expected to begin affecting the island this morning, especially over eastern parishes and gradually spreading across the island. Extensive flash flooding and landslides are expected.
PM EXPRESSES CONCERN
Yesterday, Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, who is attending a CARICOM summit in St. Lucia, expressed his regret at the possibility that the island might be hit by another hurricane so soon after Hurricane Ivan. In a statement issued to the media, Mr. Patterson said he has been "in direct contact with the management of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management and I have been assured that they have triggered the necessary arrangement and put in place the machinery to enable us to respond should we experience a hurricane."
He called upon Jamaicans to put in place measures to protect the elderly, infirm, the disabled and the young.

@Ladyday

When I heard this news I was speechless I mean what can you say when your dealing with nature confused3I just hope they do their best in protecting themselves

@DM

I can tell you how much this is really upsetting news for me my grandfather is extremely ill over there right now and we fear what another hurricane will do to him.seriously just brings tears to my eyes thinking about it. This man built his home from scratch and takes such pride in it the pre-warning of a hurricane will rest heavily on his mind.....no matter how much you tell elders not to worry over such things they will always worry.

@Boy never knew about this one too busy, but seems like our people don't get no rest. But they are tough though one thing and take these things as they come. But nobody aint telling us the white man and industrial nations in particular have not XYZ the environment and atmosphere. Old people will tell yo0u these things were rare but now common like joke.

FB

Remember I was asking Mansamusa and LadyDay earlier this year if people were ready, indeed if they had sufficiently recovered from last years many hurricanes. Some things just ain't fair it seems.

@Maffie. What is to be is to be but will pray for your grandfather in particuar and the rest of the good people in Jamica.

@DM fair boy don't make me start. Nope life is not fair and probably has never been and definitely not for us. I went to Grenada two years ago and was so excited I could not talk given the progress our people have made and really were looking good and in shape. I spent a day there recently and just could not talk and near to tears and that is after they have cleaned most of the mess and damage up. Wiple out years of collective sweat and endeavour against all odd.

Seem like god give our people the biggest rock on the plant to carry.But hear what we will carry it and prevalil and eventually put it down. That is one thing I know for sure.

FB

Sorry to hear that Maffy blkrubhead

Jamaica doesnt need another hurricane...dont think it can cope

@Freddy and BB

Thanks I just got of the phone with him he is nearly 100 so he lived a good life but we the family know that when he says goodbye to this world we got ourselves ready to take action and jump on plane to give him a send off he deserves.

Let me give you joke.....funny thing is right now as you know how it goes the house is busting with people and with his little engery he is still running them from his yard when I spoke to him and asked him how is he feeling today the first thing he said was

"too much people inna mi yard sucking out mi engery run dem for mi daughter run dem tell them to go mind their yard and pickney"

When I said papa they are there to look after you and make sure your comfortable he replied

"like vampires dem ah suck out the oxygen in the air and I need it most and they won't take time and talk sound like fog horn in mi ear drum" then he laughed. Its cool he knows he is surrounded by love from every generation LOL

thats right BB phone your Nan no matter how much the elders like to moan you know they love to get the phone calls so they can brag and boast how the family don't leave them out and forget about them. also they are aware of the bomb hitting london so I am sure your nan would be glad to hear from you.

When I phoned yard the minute they knew it was me calling from London you should've heard the noise in the background.....no wonder grandad is complaining LOL.

BB, Madet and everyone else who have fam. in the W.I., I really hope your family will be well.