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More from Jamaica............


- From Treasure Beach Jamaica

• From: "Ann Lyons" <ann.lyons at gmail.com>
• Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2007 09:21:04 -0500

Hello all - A heavy heart here. On the beach in Treasure Beach on a gorgeous sunny calm morning, packing and hammering and gunting heard all around. We should expect the worst and everyone seems to be believing it. I will report when I can but if it goes as expected communications will be a problem. In Ivan they turned the power off before the wind even picked up. I am at the hotel, Jake's now and we have a generator so I will keep you posted.

Ann Lyons

- Finally got the message ...

• From: "Richard May" <rmay.eng at gmail.com>
• Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2007 07:45:39 -0500

Well, up to 10pm last night my neigbours were telling me they dont think we're gonna get hit ... we just love their optimism. But hey, they also went and did their emergency shopping so maybe they really are just trying to be positive. It's 7:30am on Saturday and the roads are noticeably less busy than your average Saturday morning in Kingston, I am hoping it means that we have actually started to take note of what is coming. The weather channels just reported wave heights of 33ft (10m) from one of NOAA's buoys which just passed through DEAN ... the also reported that the anemometer that recorded the last wind speed BROKE in one of the gusts from the storm. The pressure is now down to 926mb .. .Gilbert was a high CAT2 into low CAT3 hurricane when it hit us in 1988 ... DEAN is coming at a mid to high CAT4 and maybe even a CAT5 ... need I say more? By the way ... I mapped Gilbert's path in 1988 against Dean's path so far and the projections for the next three days ... they are almost a perfect match ... so wind patterns should be relatively the same just way much stronger! So wherever you have wind coming from in Gilbert ... chances are thats where it'll be coming from with DEAN!

Our best bet is to hope DEAN goes north, because south will still leave us all with major damage! In my honest opinion we will get a direct hit and I suspect a "few" weeks of getting the island back together. It is not going to be pretty! Ok gotta ago ... update you later today.

Richard M
- Update

• From: cgomes at j2ltd.net
• Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2007 08:46:02 -0400 (EDT)

The beautiful morning belies the impending threat. Blue clear cloudlessskies, virtually no breeze. Interesting absence of the usual bird songsthis morning. Have they left for shelter already?Not sure how one prepares for 150 mph sustained winds - the forecast fromthe Weather Channel- but we are stocked with food and water, boarding upand sealing important documents and pictures in plastic. Our family willbe all together which is the most important part.We are clearly going to have major effects from DEAN and we can only hopeand pray that we don't get a direct hit, that there is minimal (dare wehope for no) loss of life and that Jamaicans will pick themselves up withtheir usual panache and strength after the storm passes.
- Update

• From: Sharni Bullock <pancharnic at hotmail.com>
• Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2007 11:03:06 +0000

Beautiful Morning here in Kingston!! Birds chirping, lizards up and about, nice, fresh dew on the grass - sounds like paradise but we know better than that! Just saw the satelite of Dean, looks like he will be a five by the time he graces our shores.
Please pray that somehow,like Ivan, he will at the last moment decide to swerve and that the eye will not pass directly over us.
Walk good!


Sharni S. F. Bullock


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- Calm

• From: "Sue Morris" <sue.island at cwjamaica.com>
• Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2007 02:55:06 -0500

Tis the wee hours of Saturday morning and hard to sleep. Partially knowing what is out there and the havoc that will be on or close to Jamaica in a very short time.

We are also used to sleeping with the windows wide open, now with everything boarded up, there is no outside light coming in. It is eerily calm outside, no crickets chirping, no movement at all.
the only noise to be heard is the big street party taking place on the bypass road in Ochi. When I came home from work, the large banks of speakers were all in place in the middle of the footpath. I t'ink a new likkle bar has opened up just for Dean.

The people of Jamaica are not ones to let any hurricane spoil a good party, so it is going loud and strong. It may be a while before they get to do this again.

After Ivan, we suffered terribly from a lack of fresh fruit and veges for a long time - everyone I know has purchased large quantities of tomatoes, peppers, lettuce and bananas -

hmmmmmmm wonder if there is any way to freeze bananas and still have them taste the same - have to suss that one out.

The dogs are looking at me wondering what the mumma is doing at the puter at his time of the night - and they say "who is crazy"

Take care everyone

Sue M

- Battered Down

• From: dervon <reggaeweather at yahoo.com>
• Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2007 20:14:33 -0700 (PDT)

Preparations went into high gear today, everyone was busy shopping or starting to bunker down in anticipation of mean dean which was the talk of the day, many businesses closed a bit earlier to allow employees time to get prepared as the government and disaster agencies met to finalize their emergency plans.
Jamaicans are no fools, we have learned how to prepare from two of the toughest hurricanes of the century Gilbert in 1988 and Ivan in 2004 and we are seasoned, hard boiled hurricane survivors and once again our survival skills are about to be tested to their limits, and i believe, truly believe that we will overcome once more. to all our affected neighbors dust yourselves off and prepare for the next one and all the others out there say a PRAYER for us.
I'll post a few pictures of my area after the storm and maybe once more tomorrow.

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000
WTNT44 KNHC 181448
TCDAT4
HURRICANE DEAN DISCUSSION NUMBER 22
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL042007
1100 AM EDT SAT AUG 18 2007

AN AIR FORCE PLANE ENTERED THE EYE OF DEAN THIS MORNING AND FOUND
THAT THE HURRICANE HAS NOT WEAKENED AND THE INITIAL INTENSITY
REMAINS AT 130 KNOTS. IN FACT...THE MINIMUM PRESSURE DROPPED TO 924
MB AT AROUND 1200 UTC AND THEN UP TO 929 MB JUST RECENTLY. DEAN
WILL LIKELY GO THROUGH EYEWALL CYCLES DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS
RESULTING IN FLUCTUATIONS IN INTENSITY. HOWEVER...THE PEAK
INTENSITY IS EXPECTED TO OCCUR IN THE NORTHWESTERN CARIBBEAN
BETWEEN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS AND YUCATAN WHERE THE OCEAN HEAT CONTENT
IS VERY HIGH. DEAN COULD BECOME A CATEGORY FIVE AT ANY TIME BEFORE
IT REACHES YUCATAN.

THE STEERING PATTERN HAS BEEN VERY STEADY. DEAN IS MOVING TOWARD THE
WEST OR 290 DEGREES AT 15 KNOTS STEERED BY A HIGH OVER THE WESTERN
ATLANTIC AND A LOW OVER FLORIDA. THE LOW IS FORECAST TO MOVE
WESTWARD AND BE REPLACED BY A STRONG RIDGE BY ALL GLOBAL MODELS.
THIS PATTERN WILL KEEP DEAN ON A GENERAL WEST-NORTHWEST TO WEST
TRACK ACROSS THE CARIBBEAN SEA IN THE DIRECTION OF JAMAICA...THE
CAYMAN ISLANDS AND YUCATAN. THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH TRACK MODELS
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE GFDL WHICH INSISTS ON A TRACK FARTHER TO
THE NORTH AND JUST CLIPPING THE NORTHEASTERN YUCATAN PENINSULA.

FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS

INITIAL 18/1500Z 15.7N 68.6W 130 KT
12HR VT 19/0000Z 16.4N 71.0W 130 KT
24HR VT 19/1200Z 17.3N 74.3W 135 KT
36HR VT 20/0000Z 18.3N 77.8W 125 KT...NEAR OR OVER JAMAICA
48HR VT 20/1200Z 19.5N 81.4W 140 KT
72HR VT 21/1200Z 21.5N 88.5W 100 KT...INLAND
96HR VT 22/1200Z 23.0N 94.0W 110 KT
120HR VT 23/1200Z 25.4N 100.0W 50 KT...INLAND

$$
FORECASTER AVILA

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Dominican Republic




- Juan Dolio 10:40 AST

• From: Dunhill Satellite Systems <info at dunhill.ws>
• Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2007 10:46:38 -0400

We just had a nice walk over the beach, some rain, strange gray/white sky with blue spots, little wind
Waves are getting huge, i was (stupid enough) to take a walk on the new pier, and i felt that i was walking the dutch coast again during one of their autummstorms.
The (un)famous "underwater" parking garage project needs just a liitle push from the sea to become "Lago Juan Dolio"

Arjan
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- Juan Dolio 09:40

• From: Dunhill Satellite Systems <info at dunhill.ws>
• Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2007 09:42:00 -0400

Black sky, some heavy rainshowers, but still no heavy wind

pics on http://www.dunhill.ws/avk/dean/ (updated when needed)

the sea is "GUAPA"

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- Dean on the north coast

• From: carol read <carolread1945 at yahoo.com>
• Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2007 14:18:24 +0100 (BST)

We are feeling the effects of one of the feeder bands here although the barometer is steady at 1014mb, with a high thin cloud cover and temperature of 29.7c with humidity of 77% at 9am. Unusually we have a slowly increasing light breeze from a dead calm at 7am - normally the winds get up at midday for the kitesurfers.
For ideas on reducing your carbon footprint visit Yahoo! For Good this month.
- Samaná Has Sun and Rain

• From: mountainfrog <mountainfrog at hughes.net>
• Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2007 08:21:49 -0400

Good morning,We had some scattered showers at night, nothing big though.Now at breakfast time we get some sunny intervals with high andlow clouds; gusty winds from the north, 5 to 15 kts.Temperature 25ºC; rel. humidity 82%,; falling pressure.More clouds moving as I write.Stay dry and safe.Saludosde Samanámountainfrog
- 08:00 AST Juan Dolio

• From: Dunhill Satellite Systems <info at dunhill.ws>
• Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2007 08:01:37 -0400

All seems to be so nice and quiet
No Wind 27c
Nice sunshine
Slight cloud coverage over the whole sky
The sea looks like a mirror
except when the waves hit our new beach, go over the ridge and put a lot of trash there
than we know that the water level raised already 1 meter of more

Arjan

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Phone: INT+ 1-212-404-7348

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- Good morning

• From: "Guillermo A. Serra" <gaquiles at gmail.com>
• Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2007 07:01:02 -0400

As said...

Beautiful morning, half of the sky is clear, looking at the horizon you can see and overcasted curved group of clouds coming, I guess I catch the outer band of Dean over the city just in time, unusual soft breeze, I'm not sure whether to associate it with Dean, but just wanted to say is a Beautiful morning over Santo Domingo, D.N.

Dean is expected to be upgraded to Cat-5, that puts Jamaica on the eye of the bull, my thoughts and prayers for the residents of Jamaica, as projected path says you guys will get a DIRECT HIT.

Stay tuned...
--
Guille._

- "Huracán de grandes ligas pasará hoy frente a nosotros"

• From: "Guillermo A. Serra" <gaquiles at gmail.com>
• Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2007 00:44:43 -0400

Good evening...

...Popular newspaper Diario Libre will post on morning edition this Saturday (something like "Big hurricane will pass in front of us") while we watch our coasts very amazed about this huge baby, now Cat-4, local authorities are issuing warning to south coast residents. Local media is from this Friday warning and keeping us posted about Dean.

The local meteorology office issued red alert for La Altagracia, La Romana, San Pedro de Macorís, Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional (where I am ^_^), San Cristóbal, Peravia y Bahoruco and green alert for the rest of the country.

Hurricane watch is issued from Barahona to Pedernales, meanwhile Tropical Storm watch is issued from Cabo Engaño to Azua.

I'll keep you posted about any kind of interesting stuff happening on the metropolitan area, to all other correspondent from Dominican Republic (Kurt, mountainfrog, Dolores Vicioso, alejandro read and carol read) good job, keep up a good work, wishing to see your reports about how things develop in your local area.

Stay tuned...

--
Guille._

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654
Wtnt34 Knhc 181745
Tcpat4
Bulletin
Hurricane Dean Intermediate Advisory Number 22a
Nws Tpc/national Hurricane Center Miami Fl Al042007
200 Pm Ast Sat Aug 18 2007

...dean Remains An Extremely Dangerous Hurricane...heavy Squalls
Spreading Over Hispaniola...

A Hurricane Warning Remains In Effect For The South Coast Of The
Dominican Republic From Barahona Westward To The Haiti-dominican
Republic Border...and For The Southwestern Peninsula Of Haiti From
The Haiti-dominican Republic Border To Port-au-prince. A Hurricane
Warning Also Remains In Effect For Jamaica. A Hurricane Warning
Means That Hurricane Conditions Are Expected Within The Warning
Area Within The Next 24 Hours. Preparations To Protect Life And
Property Should Be Rushed To Completion.

At 2 Pm Ast...1800 Utc...the Government Of Cuba Has Issued A
Tropical Storm Warning For Portions Of Cuba...from The Province Of
Camaguey Eastward To The Province Of Guantanamo. A Tropical Storm
Warning Remains In Effect Along The South Coast Of The Dominican
Republic From Cabo Engano Westward To Barahona...and For Coast Of
Haiti North Of Port-au-prince To The Northern Haiti-dominican
Republic Border. A Tropical Storm Warning Means That Tropical
Storm Conditions Are Expected Within The Warning Area Within The
Next 24 Hours.

A Hurricane Watch Is In Effect For The Cayman Islands. A Hurricane
Watch Means That Hurricane Conditions Are Possible Within The Watch
Area...generally Within 36 Hours.

Interests Elsewhere In The Western Caribbean...including Western
Cuba...and The Yucatan Peninsula Should Closely Monitor The
Progress Of Dean.

For Storm Information Specific To Your Area...please Monitor
Products Issued By Your Local Weather Office.

For Storm Information Specific To Your Area...including Possible
Inland Watches And Warnings...please Monitor Products Issued
By Your Local Weather Office.

At 200 Pm Ast...1800z...the Eye Of Hurricane Dean Was Located
Near Latitude 15.9 North...longitude 69.4 West Or About 505 Miles...
815 Km...east-southeast Of Kingston Jamaica And About 175 Miles...
285 Km...south Of Santo Domingo In The Dominican Republic.

Dean Is Moving Toward The West-northwest Near 17 Mph...28 Km/hr. A
General Track Between The West And West-northwest Is Forecast During
The Next 24 Hours. On This Track...the Core Of The Hurricane Will
Be Moving South Of Hispaniola Today And Early Sunday.

Maximum Sustained Winds Remain Near 150 Mph...240 Km/hr...with
Higher Gusts. Dean Is An Extremely Dangerous Category Four
Hurricane On The Saffir-simpson Hurricane Scale. Some Fluctuations
In Intensity Are Expected During The Next 24 Hours.

Hurricane Force Winds Extend Outward Up To 60 Miles...95 Km...from
The Center...and Tropical Storm Force Winds Extend Outward Up To 205
Miles...335 Km.

Latest Minimum Central Pressure Reported By An Air Force Hurricane
Hunter Plane Was 930 Mb...27.46 Inches.

Storm Total Rainfall Amounts Of 5 To 10 Inches Can Be Expected Over
Jamaica...with Maximum Amounts Of Up To 20 Inches. Amounts Of 2 To
3 Inches Can Be Expected Over The Dominican Republic And Haiti With
Amounts Up To 6 Inches Possible. Additional Rain Accumulations Of 1
To 2 Inches Are Possible Over Puerto Rico...with Isolated Storm
Total Amounts Of 5 Inches. These Rains Could Cause Life-
Threatening Flash Floods And Mudslides.

Repeating The 200 Pm Ast Position...15.9 N...69.4 W. Movement
Toward...west-northwest Near 17 Mph. Maximum Sustained Winds...150
Mph. Minimum Central Pressure...930 Mb.

The Next Advisory Will Be Issued By The National Hurricane Center At
500 Pm Ast.

$$
Forecaster Avila

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Cayman Islands.....

- Update

• From: "Jarrett Nicholson" <jaroo at weststartv.com>
• Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2007 13:19:52 -0500

just a quick update........ game on....things look like we should get the worst of it by Monday morning...the butter flies in my stomach are starting to flutter. It's the waiting that is killing me. One last shutter to put on and then it's life in the darkness, that doesn't help any. The shops are all busy but not insane. I guess we all saw this one coming and starting preparing last week. Guess we have to wait and see what tomorrow brings (some ones song lyrics) all in all its safe to say that everyone here is in full swing getting there life's in order. Will post later. I gotta work at 4 our time here...so look for a post after midnight... thank you every who is wishing the best.. I will keep you update until we can't anymore.
every one stay safe

J Nicholson.
345-525-0282
jaroo at weststartv.com

- Update

• From: "Hank & Jane Blagen" <blagensbeach at candw.ky>
• Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2007 19:42:32 -0500

Little Cayman is beautifully calm at this moment, but waiting for the "next Ivan" to hit. We are boarding up, packing our hurricane boxes, and having town meetings today. More of the same tomorrow. Dean looks like he will pass through the Western Caribbean a bit farther north than Ivan did, which will affect all three Cayman Islands in a really bad way. Hoping for better news when we wake up tomorrow and check in.

Jane Blagen
Little Cayman

- Dean.....now a Cat 4

• From: "Tara Thompson" <cheekytaz at candw.ky>
• Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2007 19:37:55 -0500

Title: Dean.....now a Cat 4Dean is probably yearning for an eyewall replacement cycle, and I have a feeling this will happen sooner rather than later. Naturally we will see some weakening, and then…..well the only thing to follow is Cat 5. I am hoping (selfishly) that the ERC will cause a wobble to the north, but with a Hurricane 600 miles deep perhaps this is merely wishful thinking.
If anyone needs a generator, I suggest going to Harbour House as most other places are sold out (and they may also be by now, call before you go).
This one WILL most certainly go down in history - lets hope it doesn't take lives with it.
Please, please, please take this storm extremely seriously if you haven't already. We are most definitely in for a beating, even if it changes its track.
Tara.

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Dominican Republic.........


- Dean - north coast

• From: carol read <carolread1945 at yahoo.com>
• Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2007 19:31:53 +0100 (BST)

2.15 pm and wind at 15-20kt gusting higher, thunder but no lightning. Sea higher and quite rough. For ideas on reducing your carbon footprint visit Yahoo! For Good this month.
- 1:30PM Update

• From: "Guillermo A. Serra" <gaquiles at gmail.com>
• Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2007 13:49:35 -0400

Good afternoon...

In Santo Domingo, capital city of Distrito Nacional head province and the Dominican Republic: Currently, overcasted, light rain and no wind, very high tides, too dangerous to walk or drive by the pier avenue.

After stopping all activities where I work at 12PM, I couldn't resist to drive to the coastline avenue (G. W. Ave.) to take a look. I was in shock when I finally reach the avenue when exiting on the Núñez de Cáceres ramp, though the avenue was closed so I had to made u-turn to a parallel avenue and find the safest spot and opened for public. I found some more people staring at the amazing high tides braking in our high rocky shores. Sea was gray and filled with garbage, pitiful. Due to the closeness of the sea to the street, transportation authorities (AMET) closed most of the avenue, leaving some "safe spots" (it depends on if you behave before the situation) to stop by and look.

Gas stations, supermarkets and other groceries stores are showing some more activities than usual. Government is doing coordination with public institutes to keep citizens safe, however, is normal that not enough is done so if institutions are not there helping you, PLEASE HELP YOURSELF. Don't stay near any kind of natural water resources (ríos, arroyos y cañadas), better stay in your concrete house or apartment than a wooden one.

STAY AT HOME, if you don't have anything to do outside, then take the quickest way to home.

The Dominican Republic will not get direct hit by Dean, but some of its effect will be felt within the next couple of hours, specially on the southwestern side of the country.

Still have power, but our building has emergency generators.

Stay tuned...

--
Guille._

- Juan Dolio 12:00 AST

• From: Dunhill Satellite Systems <info at dunhill.ws>
• Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2007 12:19:08 -0400

Dean almost Cat.5 , i took some nice pics from the beach


view to San Pedro de Macoris

[IMG]file:///Z:/scanner/Dean/1200/dsc00259.jpg[/IMG]

view to Boca Chica



view to DieHards



view to Dean



more at http://www.dunhill.ws/avk/dean/
--

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- Overcast and Light Rain

• From: mountainfrog <mountainfrog at hughes.net>
• Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2007 11:42:08 -0400

Hola,It's now overcast, low clouds are moving in from theEast raining off in the hills, more like a drizzlethan heavy showers.Out in the Atlantic we can see some blue sky and downat the coast there's probably no rainfall (yet).Could very well be that plenty of 'capitaleños' arehaving a cold beer in some seaside places this looongweekend.Stay safe!Saludosde Samanámountainfrog
- Juan Dolio 10:40 AST

• From: Dunhill Satellite Systems <info at dunhill.ws>
• Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2007 10:46:38 -0400

We just had a nice walk over the beach, some rain, strange gray/white sky with blue spots, little wind
Waves are getting huge, i was (stupid enough) to take a walk on the new pier, and i felt that i was walking the dutch coast again during one of their autummstorms.
The (un)famous "underwater" parking garage project needs just a liitle push from the sea to become "Lago Juan Dolio"

Arjan
--

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for Satellite Internet Systems
Phone: INT+ 1-212-404-7348

Visit our website at: http://www.dunhill.ws




- Juan Dolio 09:40

• From: Dunhill Satellite Systems <info at dunhill.ws>
• Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2007 09:42:00 -0400

Black sky, some heavy rainshowers, but still no heavy wind

pics on http://www.dunhill.ws/avk/dean/ (updated when needed)

the sea is "GUAPA"

--

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Report from Dominica.............


- Dean

• From: Peter Dick <peter at balvine.com>
• Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2007 19:35:05 +0100

Now 2:30pm Saturday. Weather in the Portsmouth area remains dry. Most of the surface water has gone: either run off, sunk into the ground or just evaporated.

Good news: it appears the birds survived and, judging by the number on my feeder, there are hungry!

Many people out and about clearing up... in particular clearing the roads from the broken trees.

Domlec restored power for my area (Picard) at 12 noon and it has been on since then. However I have just spoken to friends in Calibishi and they haven't yet had power restored. This means, for people without generators, that their freezers have now gone 36 hours without power and everything will be defrosted...

As far as I can tell, the north west of the island (as in Portsmouth and Picard) suffered considerably less damage than anywhere else.

I heard of a sign in one of the shops: "Dean There, Got The T-shirt".

This is my last public report: if you want/need further information, then please email me directly.




- Dean

• From: Peter Dick <peter at balvine.com>
• Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2007 15:33:07 +0100

Now 10:30 Saturday morning: sunny and dry in the north.

Sadly my earlier report, submitted late last night, turns out to be over optimistic...

My friends in Calibishi, Paix Bouche and Moore Park all now report even more damage than originally feared, with roofs of houses blown off, a high percentage of crops lost and flooding everywhere.

In Portsmouth, two of the big trees opposite Barclays / First Caribbean bank have been blown over.

The electricity, which you may remember I said came on late last night for the Portsmouth area, went off after a couple of hours and hasn't been on since. (Now 10am).

Portsmouth looks like a ghost town with most of the shops shut... neither petrol stations currently open.

Listening to people talk, while the NOAA may say DEAN passed over the south of Martinique, the strength and duration of the winds, coupled with a lot of rain, suggests the equivalent of a Cat 1 (or even Cat 2) hit the north east. I suspect the south will have been hit even harder. Dominica is very happy Dean has passed on and everyone is hoping Jamaica will be spared...

I live in a 100+ year old wooden house and I can only assume Mourne Balvine provided a shelter from the worst of the winds and rain. Talking of rain... I've checked the rain pot and we had 248mm (aka about 10 inches) of rain between 7am Friday and 7am Saturday. That is a huge amount...

Finally... a small piece of humour: I was in Rudolph Thomas (builder's merchants / hardware store) this morning and a lady phoned wanting to know if they were open as she wanted to buy some paint...



- Report on Dean

• From: Peter Dick <peter at balvine.com>
• Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2007 03:46:33 +0100

Domlec turned the power off at 1:15am before the winds got wild. The power came back on at about 10pm.

I personally spoke with people living in Calibishi, Paix Bouche and Dos D'ane. They all report very extensive winds and rain. Although some mature coconut trees simply snapped with the strength of the wind, damage to property has not been described as serious. Most people report water in their houses: pouring in under doors or coming via from under the roof line.

At Picard on the north-west coast, the winds were not as bad but the rain ... 170mm (aka 7 inches) fell between 7am and roughly 12 noon.

Second hand reports say the Roseau River burst its banks and one of the bridges was underwater!

While Dean was well forecast, most people didn't appreciate there was a second weather front, a depression, hanging over a large area of the Caribbean area, from Grenada to Antigua, which meant rain continued to fall for at least 12 hours after Dean has passed by.

The great success story of the day was the cell phone companies who kept their systems working the whole time.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note to editor: you are welcome to rewrite my bad English and please let me know if you want more info.
Bye/P
Peter Dick.

- DEAN there DONE IT!

• From: "Lisette Stevens" <jaco.lass at gmail.com>
• Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2007 19:06:04 -0300

WELL we are still on line we can't believe it. Our telephone line hasstayed intact, yet we are completely cut off. Our cottage stood fast,we did not have a drop of rain even through the door! Dean visited usat 1.30 a.m and has carried on all day - we have rain with us now butmuch lighter. The hurricane really took off around 5.0 a.m. thismorning, 90% trees around us have fallen down, making great thwackingcrashing noises, that is the worst part. All our beautiful bamboo hasbroken, now resembling wilted straws. Trees are horizontal. Therehave been terrible landslides and one mother and seven year old sonlost their lives at Campbells through a mud slide. This is so sad.There are two bridges washed away - one at Belfast and the other atBelles, other bridges that have been damaged.People have been working on the roads already and have cleared fromSt. Joseph to Roseau. People are coming to clear our road tomorrow sothings are getting back sooner than I had thought. We are so happy tohear this and proud of the Dominican people rallying around to helpget us back together again.The hurricane really was vicious early in the morning with great gustsof wind bringing tree after tree down. The winds got milder but therain was torrential, it was like sitting under a constant waterfall.We kept in touch with caring friends on the phone, I was able to gethold of my sister in the UK to let her know we were OK in the valley.Dominica is getting back on track they have electricity in Roseau themain city and should have the electricity back in Portsmouth tomorrow. It sounds like most people have weathered Dean well with a fight andfortitude to be proud of.It has meant so much to us having so many well wishers on line wecan't thank them enough for their support it made a lot of differenceto us. We are only to happy to help people having up dates of family.From Jaco Lad's point of view - catagories 2,3,4 are meaningless inthe small scheme of things when cat.1 can take you apart just likethat. Most of our damage came early and intensified winds just made itflatter. Ravines in Dominica become rivers in a jumbletime nano-secand the water speed, colour and volume resemble Guyana or Venezuela atbest.Some of the images around the island presently are akin to hurricaneDavid 28 years ago and will be captured asap - but for now let's sleepsoundly.

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