TFJM01: JAMAICA: HURRICANE DEAN: SITREP #1

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KINGSTON 001266 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR CMS SES/O DS/IP/WHA DS/IP/SPC FOR JIM SPOO WHA/CAR (KHARNE/RBUDDEN) USSOUTHCOM FOR BILL VANCIO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AEMR AMGT ASEC CASC JM KFLO MARR PINR PREL XK XL XK SUBJECT: TFJM01: JAMAICA: HURRICANE DEAN: SITREP #1 REF: (A) STATE 116204 Summary -------------- 1.(U) As of August 18, 2007, Hurricane Dean has intensified to a category-4 hurricane, and is predicted to approach category-5 in the vicinity of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. As of 1300 hours the storm is approximately 175 miles East/Southeast of Jamaica with wind gusts around 150 mph. The storm is expected to reach Jamaica early Sunday morning, August 19. End Summary. Embassy Emergency Action Committee Meets 2.(SBU) Ambassador Johnson chaired another meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on August 18, 2007. Approximately 175 USG personnel remain at post, including over 100 Peace Corps Volunteers, staff, and trainees. All USG personnel will be required to reside at the NEC chancery building or USAID building during the actual hurricane. The Embassy will stand up a command center at the embassy, while USAID and OFDA will set up a second command center at the USAID building. Both sites have Satellite phones available, in case other communication networks go down. The Defense Attache Office (DAO) is in frequent contact with the Jamaican Defense Force command center, and the RSO is in contact with the Joint Constabulary Force (JCF) command center. The Military Liaison Office (MLO) is in contact with Southcom Headquarters and will coordinate any needed assistance after the storm is clear. Voluntary Departure Away -------------- 3.(SBU) Embassy Kingston's Management Section reports wheels up on the American Airline flight with all personnel leaving on authorized departure. The flight departed from Kingston's Manley Airport at approximately 1130 hours on August 18, and has a planned stop at Montego Bay's Sangster International Airport to take on additional private passengers before flying to Miami, FL. Location of Chief of Mission Personnel -------------- 4.(SBU) All Kingston area Peace Corps Volunteers will report to the New Embassy Compound (NEC) by 1500 hours today, and will stay until the EAC decides the situation is safe for them to return to their hotel rooms. The EAC will meet again today at 1600 hours to determine if all Chief of Mission employees will be required to stay at the NEC starting tonight or at a later time Sunday, August 19. All Chief of Mission Employees and family members remaining in Jamaica are authorized to remain at the NEC until further notice. 5.(SBU) FMO reports the fuel supply is at about 80% and he expects full generator capacity for 3-5 days, afterwards the second generator will take over and direct all remaining power to the NEC safe haven. GSO reports personnel are working to purchase additional supplies for personnel staying in the Embassy, and have already procured over 45 cots as well as several air mattresses. 6.(SBU) RSO has made special arrangements with the local guard force for protection of the NEC site, official facilities, and residences. RSO and ARSO/I are on site at post; ARSO has PCS departed post. MSG T/O is at full strength at 1/5. RSO has made special arrangements with the local guard force for protection of the NEC site, official facilities, and residences. RSO and ARSO are on site at post, ARSO has PCS departed post. MSG T/O is at full strength at 1/5. Government of Jamaica's Response 7.(SBU) After a three hour National Disaster Committee meeting, Friday, August 17, Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller (PM PSM)has announced all essential government personnel on leave have been recalled. PM PSM also announced that 50 busses have been prepared to provide transportation to shelters and that the national stadium will be made into an additional shelter. The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) will impose a curfew in the metropolitan Kingston area at 6:00 p.m. local time Aug. 18; diplomatic and official vehicles and personnel will not be subject to this curfew. KINGSTON 00001266 002 OF 003 ¶8. As requested reftel, the following are office, mobile, and residence telephone numbers of key officers who will have action responsibilities: Embassy's Hurricane Dean Control Room (at chancery) 876-702-6289 Ambassador Brenda L. Johnson 876-702-6110 DCM James Heg 876-702-6210 (m)876-1-361-1019 (r)876-978-8665}$NesbQVr2-6059 (m) 876-1-577-3340 (r)876-924-7695 GSO Lewis Clark 876-702-6374 (m)876-1-399-0709 (r)876-905-2406 GSO Al Braswell 876-702-6262 (m) 876-1-361-1034 (r) n/a ConGen Ed Wehrli 876-702-6237 (m) 876-1-361-1045 (r)876-924-2591 Vice Consul (ACS) Tammy Davis 876-702-6234 (m) 876-1-462-8078 (r)876-924-7823 MLO Eric Valentzas 876-702-6073 (m)876-1-382-9030 (r)876-926-3690 Dep. MLO John Merli 876-702-6017 (m) 876-1-382-9031 (r)876-925-1386 DAO Randy Ramel 876-702-6071 (m)876-1-399-4063 (r)876-931-7081 IMO Howard Sparks 876-702-6092 (m) 876-1-881-7652 (r)876-924-2842 Peace Corps Dir. Howard Anderson 876-929-0495 (m)876-1-371-0590 (r)876-924-0194 USAID Dir & MDRO Jim Harmon 876-926-3645 (m)876-1-383-8905 (r)876-925-9488 OFDA Assessment Team Leader Julie Leonard 876-926-3645 (m)571-338-3776 Iridium sat: 8816-3144-6459 B-gan e-mail: jleonard@ofda.gov PAO Pat Attkisson 876-702-6047 (m)876-1-361-1033 (r)876-925-6581 DEA ATTACHE Kelvin Jamison 876-702-6086 (m)876-1-818-7204 (r)876-905-2994 TAT Chief Roy Strunk 876-702-6089 (m) 876-1-999-4465 (r)876-931-9427 APHIS Alester Simmons 876-924-8741 (m)876-1-909-0918 (r)976-931-0333 ICE Attache Vance Callender 876-702-6094 (m)876-1-382-8486 (r)876-925-5246 USMS Thaddeus Lee 876-702-6098 (m)876-1-371-3372 (r)876-924-2370 Pol-Econ Lloyd Moss 876-702-6083 (m)876-1-361-10 (r)876-978-8973 Facilities Maintenance Officer Carroll Webb 876-702-6216 (m)876-1-877-9671 (r)876-924-2354 OBO Project Manager Jerry Jay (m)876-1-977-2898 (r)876-924-7382 Montego Bay pre-positioned ConOffs Gillian Apfel (m)876-570-9680 KINGSTON 00001266 003 OF 003 Hester Dredge (m)876-893-0017 (hotel)876-979-8800 Cayman Islands pre-positioned ConOff Lesley Hayden (m)876-469-3372 (hotel)345-946-4433 JOHNSON