Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KINGSTON1266
2007-08-18 23:33:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kingston
Cable title:
TFJM01: JAMAICA: HURRICANE DEAN: SITREP #1
how-toVZCZCXRO3908 OO RUEHGR DE RUEHKG #1266/01 2302333 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 182333Z AUG 07 ZFF4 FM AMEMBASSY KINGSTON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5204 INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE RUMIAAA/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
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
--------
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
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