Thread: Grand Turk Storm Updates (Hanna/Ike/Jo)

Hanna has been sitting and / or dwaddling in the vacinity of the Turks and Caicos Islands for a couple of days now... We need to remember the people there in our thoughts and prayers.

This thread is to post any storm related news from there...

Read a report on another board that indicated Grand Turk has been experiencing gale force winds. Some other things I gleaned from the posting:

low lying areas on the southern side of Providenciales are flooded

Lots of roof damage. Some completely torn off

The High School is flooded

Lots of downed trees, widespread power outages

A Marina has 'overflowed' on one of the Caicos Islands

Grand Turk - Hanna

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.

Message: Hanna beginning to move north-northwestward (As of 2.00 p.m, September 3, 2008)
Event:
As of 2.00pm September 3, 2008 a Hurricane Warning remains in effect for the central Bahamas, southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos islands. A hurricane watch is in effect for the northwestern Bahamas. The centre of Tropical Storm Hanna was located near latitude 21.4 north and longitude 72.0 west or just south of the Turks and Caicos.
Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph (95 km/hr) with higher gusts. Hanna is a large tropical cyclone with Tropical Storm force winds extending outward up to 290miles (465km) mainly to the north of the centre.
Rains and strong winds continue to affect the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas.
Prognosis:
Hanna is moving towards north-northwest near 10mph. A turn to the northwest with an increase in forward speed is expected over the next 24 hours. However, the On this track the centre of Hanna should be moving through or just east of the central and northwestern Bahamas over the next 48 hours. Hanna is expected to 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. Storm surge of 1 to 3 feet above normal tide levels can be expected in areas of onshore flows within the hurricane warning areas.
TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS (TCI)
Impact
Tropical Storm Hanna continues to affect the islands in the Turks and Caicos with strong winds and heavy rainfall. Preliminary assessments were conducted and flooding has been reported throughout the islands especially in Five Cays, Providenciales.

All schools, government offices, business community and private sector establishments remain closed.
Response:
The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) which serves as the
coordinating centre for all the islands of the TCI remains activated.
Yesterday, September 2, the Governor met with the NEOC of the
Emergency Policy Group to get an update of the impact and to consider
critical next steps.

The Engineering and Maintenance Services (EMS) began pumping the flood waters from the land into the sea with the aid of one (1) of their new portable salt water pumps. The canal gates are also opened at low tide to allow the ponds to drain into the sea and subsequently closed at high tide to prevent seawater from filling the ponds and Salinas.

Airports:
All airports remain closed and non operational due to the adverse weather conditions which include flooding, debris on runway and damaged fence.
Casualties:
No deaths have been reported. All missing persons have been accounted
for.
Shelters:
Shelters remain open, however it was noted that shelter population was greatest at night. Most shelterees left at first light. Of the shelters activated Providenciales had approximately 800 shelterees.
Damage:
Preliminary damage assessments were conducted and flooding has been reported throughout the islands especially in Five Cays, Providenciales. There was evidence that part of the perimeter fencing at the Providenciales Airport was destroyed by a three (3) foot storm surge.
Housing:
Miinor damage to roofs reported.
Utilities:
Electricity has been restored to most of the islands. Telephone service remains functional and the internet service continues to be a reliable form of communication except for a very brief period when there was an apparent loss in the service.

However, the water supply provided by City Water in Grand Turk is still not operational and the majority of residents are relying on their cisterns.

Roads:
Most roads have suffered damage due to storm surge and flooding. The recently constructed Causeway linking North and Middle Caicos has suffered what appears to be major damage and may even have been destroyed.
Boats:
There were reports of boats washed ashore, damaged or sunken.
NEEDS IDENTIFIED
There is a requirement for Environmental Health Department to monitor the operation of the sewage systems especially in the areas that are experiencing flooding.
A structural engineer will be required to assess the level of damage to the causeway linking North and Middle Caicos.
BAHAMAS
Impact:
Hanna continues to affect the southeastern Bahamas primarily the islands of Inagua and Mayaguana.

Response:
The National Emergency Operations Centre remains activated and continues to provide advice to the public.

All communication equipment including Satellite phones and radios were checked by the police communications centre and found to be operational

All national medical facilities were checked and found to be ready with the necessary supplies and equipment in place.

IMPACT
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has received the following updates on the situation from the family of islands.

Casualties:
No causalities have been reported so far.

Shelters
Shelters are either operational or ready to be activated with the necessary supplies. There are approximately 139 persons in shelters on Acklins and 20 persons on Long Cay.
Utilities
Electricity has been restored to most of the islands.
Damage:
Reports so far are minimal with minor roof damage and fallen trees.
REGIONAL RESPONSE
The CDERA Coordinating Unit remains in regular contact with the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos 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 3, 2008, the centre of Tropical Storm Ike was located near latitude 20.8 north and longitude 51.2 west.
As at 11.00a.m. September 3, 2008, the centre of Tropical Storm Josephine was located near latitude 13.8 north and longitude 28.8 west.
CDERA will continue to monitor the situation and provide advisories as necessary.

Contact Details: The CDERA CU 24hr contact number is 246 425 0386

The sun is shining brightly over Provo at the moment, what a beautiful sight. We are all preparing for the oncoming Ike's unwanted visit. Please pray for us that the storm moves further north so we don't receive a direct hit from the category 4 monster. We just took a drive to Five Cays and the water is receding from the roads.

We were at the IGA when it opened at 7:00 a.m. and there were already quite a few people there A sign posted states that the boat is in but the dock is closed, hopefully it will reopen today.

The shelter at the Enid Capron school in Five Cays has an urgent request for diapers and any other supplies people can contribute. Please help if you can. We all have to work together as we are all on this little island together and must face this storm.

Many thanks to the police and firemen who are working 24 hours to rescue and protect our citizens.

For any of you who may take an interest on what is going on here on Providenciales, Turks & Caicos......

Planes are flying in to evacuate folks. Air courier service here is bringing in special charter flights to Miami and folks can take their animals.

AA is offerring a one way flight off island to US citizens who hold a valid passport.......neighbors secured a flight to Philadelphia which is all the airline could offer them.

I am afraid to ask what the price of that ticket was...

Gretchen

Hurricane Ike is fast on its way towards us. Tropical storm force winds are predicted to hit Grand Turk at about 6:00 p.m. and Provo at 9:00 p.m. All residents needing to go to higher ground and shelters in Provo have been asked to be there by 6:00 p.m. and Grand Turk residents should already be in safe places. The storm surges are predicted to be l0 to l2 feet and the places within 8 miles of the sea could be in dangerous situations. The stores are closed now. There is nothing we can do now but try and stay safe. At least it should be a fast moving storm, that is one good thing. Please pray for all of the people in these small islands. Hopefully by this time tomorrow Ike will be just a bad memory for us.

The news from Grand Turk this morning is NOT GOOD

Many homes destroyed...