The last time Jamaica took a DIRECT hit was when the eye of Hurricane Gilbert made landfall there in September of 1988 as a somewhat less dangerous Category 3 Hurricane. The damage then was extensiive.
As of this evening, no more flights off the island nation are available.
Batten down, hunker down, and stay safe Jamaica - you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Okay ladies and gentlemen ... it went from sunny, partly cloudy skies to pitch black in about 25 minutes this evening. As I sit here typing the first real gust of wind just blew threw my apartment complex in Kingston ... pretty interesting for a storm that is still 12 hours away! There are NO CARS ON THE ROAD and we can hear no traffic so I am happy to report that most persons have decided to take this hurricane seriously. Last advisory was no surprise ... we have been on the target list from day 1 ...
The evening is a little chillier than one may have expected, but given the consistent wind this again is not a surprise. The wind is not a worry factor at this point ... probably about 8 knots ... but the gusts just now could easily have been at least 20 as it took a quite few leaves from the trees at the front of the apartment. As far as utlities go ... or will go ... the electricity is scheduled to go at 10am tomorrow (Sunday) as per the JPSCo on a radio interview this afternoon. NWC will naturally go shortly after the JPSCo as they need power to pump water. As for telecommunications ... well lets see who is going to play chicken and who is going to be smart .. its C&W Vs Digicel in Hurricane Service Round 2 (ding ding)!
The ODPEM has advised the evacuation of all coastal and low-lying areas ... I trust that everyone will be cooperative this time round! The fishermen thus far have actually heeded the warnings .. a good sign that the message has filtered far and wide ... DEAN means business. Wind picking up again and this time there is a light drizzle as well ... lets see how we fare! Keep us in your prayers. Paradise may well be paralyzed after tonight!
I hope so, I have family members there and another in Grand Cayman. Spoke to them earlier, and they told me that J'ca had begun to feel the effects of the hurricane. The Caymans have not as yet. Hoping all there don't suffer too badly.
If you live in the Miami area, and want to help with emergency relief for Jamaica, this article will interest you. There is also an address to mail monetary donations.
The Jamaica Consulate General and the Diaspora Foundation Advisory Board, Southern United States are co-ordinating emergency relief for Jamaica, in light of the threat posed by Hurricane Dean.
Drop off points have been set up at several churches, including Holy Family Episcopal Church in North Miami, Kendall Community Church in Kendall, and Holy Sacrament Episcopal Church in Pembroke Pines.
Items being requested include non-perishable food items, batteries, flashlights, first aid kits, battery operated radios, and bottled water.
Persons interested in making donations can make cheques payable to the Jamaica Consulate General (Hurricane Relief) and mailed to the office at 25 Southeast Second Avenue, Suite 609, Miami, FL 33131.
For further information, persons can call the Consulate office at 305-374-8431, extensions 223 and 232.
Diaspora Advisory Board member for the Southern USA, Marlon Hill, is urging members of community associations throughout the Diaspora to be on the alert in their specific communities to collaborate effectively, as preparations are put in place.
Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller said late Saturday the country was confronting a national emergency and urged people in flood-prone areas to head for shelter.
"Do not wait for the last minute to make the decision to move from where you are," Simpson Miller said. "Decide now and begin to make arrangements to leave now."
Thousands of alarmed tourists were not waiting. They jammed Caribbean airports for flights out of Hurricane Dean's path as the fierce storm that has claimed at least six lives began sweeping past the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
Jamaican officials closed the airports late Saturday, and at 6 p.m. ordered all businesses shuttered until Tuesday to prevent the looting that occurred during Hurricane Ivan in 2004.
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Hurricane Dean Reports - Jamaica
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