Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BRIDGETOWN1033
2007-08-17 13:55:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Bridgetown
Cable title:  

HURRICANE DEAN: SITREP #1

Tags:  ASEC CASC EAID XL 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO3208
OO RUEHGR
DE RUEHWN #1033/01 2291355
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 171355Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN
TO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHSJ/AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE IMMEDIATE 0917
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5252
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0416
RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO PRIORITY 5857
INFO RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SEC IA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMCSUU/FAA NATIONAL HQ WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J5 MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J4 MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEPVAP/TSA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEWMCS/TSAIP MIAMI MIAMI FLORIDA PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PRO WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHCV/USDAO CARACAS VE PRIORITY
RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA PRIORITY 0069
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRIDGETOWN 001033 

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
--------

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRIDGETOWN 001033

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 00001033 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