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Message: Heavy Rains and strong winds continue to affect Turks and Caicos Island and South Eastern Bahamas (as at 2:00p.m, September 2, 2008)
Event:
A Hurricane Warning remains in effect for the central Bahamas, southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos islands. As at 2.00pm, September 2, 2008, the centre of Tropical Storm Hanna was located near latitude 20.6 north and longitude 72.9 west or just southeast of Great Inagua island in the southeastern Bahamas and about 420 miles southeast of Nassau.
Maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph (110 km/hr) with higher gusts. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 175 miles (280km) from the centre.
Rains and strong winds have been affecting the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas over the last 36 hours.
Prognosis:
Hanna is drifting southeastward today however, the forecast indicates that a northwestward motion is expected to begin tonight or tomorrow. On this track Hanna will be moving over the southeastern Bahamas tonight and central Bahamas tomorrow and produce 4 to 8 inches of rain with isolated amounts of up to 12 inches over the southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos islands
TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS (TCI)
Impact
Hurricane HANNA has been battering the islands of the TCI with strong winds, high seas and very heavy rain that at times are accompanied by thunder and lightning. As a result there is widespread flooding throughout all the islands. These conditions were being felt throughout the day and still continue. There are reports of fallen trees and minor damage to roofs. Preliminary damage assessment will commence as soon as it is safe to do.
Response:
The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) which serves as the coordinating centre for all the islands of the TCI has been activated and is being manned by the staff of the Office of Disaster and Emergencies.
Search and rescue operations are being
Airports:
All airports were closed at 13.30hrs on Monday, September 1.
Casualties:
No deaths have been reported. Reports of missing persons on
the island of Providenciales are being investigated by the police.
Shelters:
Many persons have left their homes in low lying areas and are seeking shelter with family and friends on higher ground. Some churches are also accommodating persons in need of shelter. Of the shelters activated, 12 persons are in shelters on Grand Turk, and 225 on Providenciales. The shelter at the Community Centre on Middle Caicos had to be closed due to the ingress of water and the shlter at Mt. Oliver Baptist church was activated instead.
Damage:
EOC Providenciales:
The building has suffered minor damage to one section of the roof and a window to the front of the building is leaking
Housing:
Minor damage to roofs reported
Utilities:
Fallen utility poles have resulted in loss of electricity to the islands of Salt Cay, Grand Turk South Caicos, Middle Caicos. Half the island of North Caicos is without electricity.
Roads: The causeway connecting middle and North Caicos is impassable
BAHAMAS
Impact:
Hanna is still affecting the southeastern Bahamas primarily the islands of Inagua and Mayagua. The National Emergency Operations Centre remain activated and continue to provide advice to the public. Assessment teams are in place and will be conducting assessments as soon as it is safe to do so.
Regional Response:
The CDERA Coordinating Unit remains in regular contact with the national disaster offices of the Bahamas and the turks and to provide support and advice.
The Regional Response Mechanism (RRM) remains on standby.
CDERA has been collaborating with the Caribbean Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology for reviewing and analyzing the progress and development of tropical systems in the Atlantic.
In this regard the CDERA CU is also monitoring the development two other tropical systems, Tropical Storm Ike and Josephine.
As at 11.00a.m. September 2, 2008, the centre of Tropical Storm Ike was located near latitude 18.9 north and longitude 45.0 west.
As at 11.00a.m. September 2, 2008, the centre of Tropical Storm Joesphine was located near latitude 13.2 north and longitude 25.3 west
CDERA will continue to monitor the situation and provide advisories as necessary.
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