MGHH01: USINT HAVANA EMERGENCY ACTION COMMITTEE -

UNCLAS HAVANA 000731 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CCA, WHA/EX STATE FOR CA/OCS/ACS/WHA, DS/IP/WHA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC AEMR AMGT CASC PREL PINR CU SUBJECT: MGHH01: USINT HAVANA EMERGENCY ACTION COMMITTEE - HURRICANE IKE UPDATE ¶1. Post's Emergency Action Committee (EAC) met this afternoon to discuss changes to Hurricane Ike's projected path and the potential impact to UNINT operations. ¶2. As of 2:00 p.m., Saturday, Ike was a Category Three (3) storm approximately 300 miles east of Cuba and scheduled to make landfall near Holguin Province on Sunday evening. The National Hurricane Center projects the storm to pass over Havana either late Monday or early Tuesday. ¶3. Earlier today, USINT contacted all American staff to gauge interest in an authorized departure but only one family expressed the desire to leave. A final decision regarding authorized departure will be made at the EAC scheduled for tomorrow afternoon. The EAC also discussed the likelihood of relocating seven families living near the ocean to residences in elevated parts of the city to include the Marine Security Guard Detachment. The Detachment will be stationed at USINT during the storm. ¶4. The EAC also discussed early departure for employees on Monday and closing USINT on Tuesday due to the storm and, if that's the case, will issue appropriate public announcements via the Internet and consular call center. ¶5. Post EAC will meet again on Sunday at 12:00 noon. FARRAR