HURRICANE DEAN: SITREP #2

UNCLAS BRIDGETOWN 001035 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 BB XL SUBJECT: HURRICANE DEAN: SITREP #2 REF: BRIDGETOWN 1033 AND PREVIOUS Summary -------------- ¶1. (U) At approximately 0200 hours EST, Hurricane Dean made its way past Barbados as a Category-2 hurricane. Dean's center was approximately 85 miles east-southeast of Martinique and 90 miles north-northwest of Barbados, traveling at a rate of 23 mph and with winds up to 100 mph. Embassy Bridgetown convened an Emergency Action Committee at 0930 hours, at which time no major damage or loss of life were reported in the Eastern Caribbean region. USAID/OFDALAC Regional Advisor reported that Dominica and St. Lucia, initially feared to be the most seriously affected, did not sustain any major damage or loss of life. End Summary. ¶2. (U) According to the Disaster Management Office in Dominica and the National Emergency Management Organization in St. Lucia, there were no major damages or loss of life reported. Similar reports came from the Disaster Management Committee in Barbados, the National Office of Disaster Services in Antigua and Barbuda, the Disaster Management Office in St. Kitts and Nevis, and the National Disaster Management Agency in Grenada. In Martinique and Guadeloupe, authorities reported that there was no major damage or loss of life. The impact of Hurricane Dean in the Lesser Antilles region was limited to minor flooding, electricity outages and isolated cutoffs of water supply. Some minor damage occurred in the agricultural sector, but cannot be determined at this time. ¶3. (U) Embassy Bridgetown convened an Emergency Action Committee at 0930hrs, at which time all embassy staff were accounted for, including Embassy Grenada. There was no damage to U.S. mission facilities. Peace Corps Director in St. Lucia reported that all staff and volunteers are safe. Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados resumed its operations at 0900 hours. On August 16, LIAT and American Airlines provided extra flights to Dominica to facilitate the departure of Ross University students in anticipation of Dean. The university set up an impromptu shelter on campus for those who remained in Dominica. Executive Dean of Ross University reported to Embassy Bridgetown Charge d'Affaires early August 17 that, to the best of their knowledge, no students were harmed. There were also no reports of any harm to American citizens in other countries of the Lesser Antilles region. ¶4. (U) U.S. assistance was not requested as of the time of this cable. An Eastern Caribbean Donor Group (ECDG) meeting commenced at 1100 hours, where further damage and needs assessments will be determined. Comment -------------- ¶5. (U) Post will advise when additional information becomes available and if circumstances change throughout the day. Although the Lesser Antilles region is currently experiencing the side effects of Hurricane Dean (medium to heavy rains and minor flooding),it appears that the impact on the region has been relatively minor. End Comment. HOWARD