HURRICANE DEAN: SITREP #1

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRIDGETOWN 001032 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR SAN JOSE FOR USAID/OFDA-CALLAHAN AND LEONARD USAID FOR DCHA/OFDA-THAYER AND LAC/AA GENEVA FOR N.KYLOH, USUN FOR T.MALY, SECDEF FOR SOLIC, JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC FOR J3/J4/J5, USSOUTHCOM FOR J3/J4/J5, NSC FOR P.MARCHAM E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC CASC EAID XL SUBJECT: HURRICANE DEAN: SITREP #1 REF: BRIDGETOWN 1025 Summary -------------- ¶1. (U) As of August 16, Tropical Storm Dean intensified to a category two hurricane, moving toward the west at approximately 23 mph, with maximum sustained winds of up to 100 mph. As of 1700 hours, Hurricane Dean was located 210 miles east-northeast of Barbados and approximately 305 miles east of Martinique. USAID/OFDALAC Barbados consultant informed Post that Hurricane Dean is expected to pass north of Barbados at 2400 hours. The trajectory of Hurricane Dean includes Saint Lucia and Dominica, with the expectation that the eye of the hurricane will pass over Martinique. End Summary. Donor Meetings -------------- ¶2. (U) On August 16, 2007, USAID/OFDA participated in a Eastern Caribbean Donor Group (ECDG) briefing in response to Hurricane Dean's latest trajectory. USAID/OFDALAC Regional Advisor in Barbados informed ECDG members that a civilian airplane arrangement is already on stand-by to assist ECDG disaster assessment teams in the event that any affected countries request assistance from the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA). USAID/OFDALAC is also coordinating humanitarian assistance with the Response National Assessment Team (RNAT) members to pre-position rapid assessment and needs teams. ¶3. (U) USAID/OFDALAC convened a disaster review meeting with the Director of the Government of Barbados (GOB) Department of Emergency Management (DEM),Judy Thomas, who issued an alert to the population and issued a tropical storm warning for Barbados. The airport will shut down at 2100 hours and will resume normal operations on Friday, August 17, at 0900 hours. U.S. Embassy Disaster Preparedness Plans -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados, activated the Cascade System (phone tree) and the RSO will be the point of contact in case of any staff emergencies. Post will be available to provide assistance to staff due to damages resulting from Hurricane Dean. Consular personnel spent much of the morning coordinating with American Eagle, LIAT, and the administration of Ross University in Dominican to arrange for additional flights to remove students (for the most part Amcits) who wished to leave the country before Dean's arrival. Post expects to be open for business on our normal schedule on Friday, August 17. Regional Disaster Preparation Activities -------------- ¶5. (SBU) National emergency committees and sub-committees in Eastern Caribbean countries have been reviewing and preparing disaster preparedness activities in the following countries: Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia. Hurricane warnings are in effect in Dominica, Saint Lucia, and Martinique. Antigua, Grenada, and Saint Kitts and Nevis are currently on a tropical storm warning. The national emergency committees are preparing for shelter management, search and rescue, and determining human BRIDGETOWN 00001032 002 OF 002 resources and relief supplies in advance of Hurricane Dean. In Saint Kitts, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has activated all emergency management committees. According to USAID/OFDALAC Saint Kitts consultant, the airport is likely to shut down on Friday, August 17. Comment -------------- ¶6. (U) USAID/OFDALAC, Embassy Bridgetown, and the donor community will monitor the progress of Hurricane Dean. At the opening of business on August 17, or close thereafter, the effects of Hurricane Dean in Barbados, Saint Lucia, Dominica and Martinique should be clearer and the Embassy team will provide additional SITREPS. (Note: Martinique is considered a French State and is not accredited to Embassy Bridgetown. However, Martinique is within Embassy Bridgetown's consular district and a disaster warning was issued to all Consular Wardens. End Note.) End Comment. HOWARD