Date: Tue, 5 Sep 95 15:34:39 EDT From: Emergency Information AdministratorSubject: Caribbean: Hurricane Luis DHA-01 CARIBBEAN - HURRICANE LUIS DHA-GENEVA INFORMATION REPORT NO 1 THIS MESSAGE IS NOT AN OFFICIAL HURRICANE WARNING OR ALERT FOR ANY COUNTRY. 1. THE US NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECASTS THAT HURRICANE LUIS WILL REACH THE LEEWARD ISLANDS TODAY. AS OF 0900 UTC HURRICANE WARNINGS REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR THE ISLANDS OF THE NORTHEAST CARIBBEAN FROM DOMINICA NORTHWARD TO PUERTO RICO. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MARTINIQUE AND ST LUCIA. 2. THE US NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NOTES THAT THE CENTRE OF HURRICANE LUIS WAS 17.4 NORTH, 61.4 WEST AS OF 0900 UTC, ABOUT 55KM NORTHEAST OF ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA AND 105KM NORTH OF GUADELOUPE. LUIS HAS SLOWED DOWN AND IS MOVING WESTWARDS AT 15KM/HR WITH MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS OF 220 KM/HR. A GRADUAL TURN TO THE WEST-NORTHWEST IS EXPECTED LATER TODAY. LUIS REMAINS A CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR/SIMPSON SCALE. 3. THE CARIBBEAN DISASTER EMERGENCY RESPONSE AGENCY (CDERA) HAS ISSUED A REPORT OUTLINING THE STATE OF PREPAREDNESS AMONG ISLAND COMMUNITIES. THE REGIONAL RESPONSE MECHANISM HAS BEEN PUT ON ALERT AND CONTACTS ESTABLISHED WITH ALL NATIONAL DISASTER COORDINATORS (NDCS) IN THE IMMEDIATELY THREATENED AREAS. EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTRES (EOCS) HAVE BEEN ACTIVATED. 4. INITIAL PREPAREDNESS ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE INCLUDING CLOSURE OF SCHOOLS, CHECKING OF SHELTERS AND PREPOSITIONING OF SUPPLIES. PROVISIONS ARE BEING MADE TO ORGANIZE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT MISSIONS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ALL-CLEAR HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED. ANTICIPATED RELIEF NEEDS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED FOR EACH ISLAND. COMMAND AND CONTROL OF THE LUIS OPERATION WILL BE FROM BARBADOS. 5. THE CDERA COORDINATING UNIT IS COLLABORATING CLOSELY WITH OTHER REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES TO ENSURE A TIMELY AND APPROPRIATE RESPONSE IS AVAILABLE IN THE EVENT THAT THE CURRENT LEVEL OF THREAT IS MAINTAINED. TELEPHONE NO:+41/22/9171234 IN CASE OF EMERGENCY ONLY: TEL: +41/22/917 2010 DESK OFFICER: ERIK HAEGGLUND, TEL: +41/22/9173299 PRESS CONTACT DHA-GENEVA:MME MOULIN ACEVEDO, TEL: +41/22/917 2856 TELEX: 414242 DHA CH FAX: +41/22/9170023 INTERNET MAIL:DHAGVAATUB.ORG = DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS + distributed by - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Volunteers in Technical Assistance gopher: gopher.vita.org Disaster Information Center web: www.vita.org lists: listproc@vita.org sitreps appeal fireline brw - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -