Gustav heads for Jamaica; island on high alert

By Terresa McCall
Reporter-SKNVibes.com

~~Adz:Left~~KINGSTON, Jamaica – THE people and government of Jamaica are on high alert as they brace themselves for the impact of tropical storm Gustav, which is expected to make landfall sometime during the next several hours.

The storm has reportedly claimed the lives of more than 20 persons on Haiti and the Dominican Republic and caused landslides and flooding there.

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Bruce Golding, in making a public address to his fellow citizens, said the Officer of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is prepared for any eventualities that Gustav may bring. He however encouraged persons on the island to adequately prepare themselves as damage and suffering could be much greater if preparations are not made.

Besides stocking up on consumables and other items, Golding has asked his fellow citizens to prune overgrown trees, ensure livestock is secured and also to remove or secure potential projectiles. He said these precautionary measures would assist in reducing the possible damage that Gustav could cause.

Tropical Storm Gustav was, earlier in the week, a Category 1 Hurricane but was downgraded to tropical storm status. However, according to the Miami-based National Hurricane Centre (NHC), before Gustav makes landfall in Jamaica, it could regain hurricane status.

The NHC is also reporting that the tropical storm is expected to dump somewhere between six and 12 inches of rain over Jamaica, Haiti and the Cayman Islands “with isolated maximum amounts of up to 25 inches possible. These rains will likely produce life-threatening flash floods and mudslides”.

While storm-like conditions are already being experienced in Jamaica, the centre of the storm, as the NHC predicts, will pass either near to or over the island sometime tonight en route to the Cayman Islands.

According to reports, the island is readying itself for Gustav, remembering the trail of destruction which was left in the wake of Hurricanes Dean and Ivan.