SUMMARY
- Tropical Storm Warning remains for Trinidad & Tobago, Grenada and its Dependencies
- Tropical Storm Warning has been discontinued for ÐÓ°ÉÐÔ°É and St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for ÐÓ°ÉÐÔ°É
- A Severe Weather Warning is still in effect for sections of Guyana
- Flash Flood Watch remains in effect for four (4) Parishes in Jamaica
- CDEMA and the United Nations convened Eastern Caribbean Development Partner Group – Disaster Management (ECDPG-DM) Meeting
THE SITUATION
According to the National Hurricane Center, Miami Florida, as at 5:00pm (AST) Monday June 19, 2017, the center of Tropical Storm Bret was located by an Air Force Hurricane Hunter aircraft to be near latitude 9.4 N and longitude 59.8 W. Bret is moving toward the west-northwest near 30 mph (48 km/h) and is expected to continue at a slightly slower speed over the next 48 hours. On the forecast track, the tropical storm is expected to move near or over Trinidad and the eastern coast of Venezuela tonight and early Tuesday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph (65 km/h) with higher gusts. Little change in strength is forecast during the next 48 hours. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles (130 km) from the center, mainly north of the center.
Impact Analysis by the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH)
The Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) provided CDEMA with an impact analysis based on the forecasted tropical system at 10:30am, June 19, 2017.
- Most significant impact is expected for Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada and its Dependencies. The system is expected to make landfall on Trinidad by 8:00pm tonight.
Impacts projected for these two States are as follows:
- Rainfall 6-10 inches
- Wave Heights 12-15ft
- Wind Speeds up to 50 Knots
- Some impact is expected in the Grenadines of St. Vincent but to a lesser extent
- Some flooding is expected in Guyana
- Confirmed wave heights are likely to be the main area of concern for Saint Lucia
In the Western Caribbean, the area of disturbance is expected to produce significant precipitation in Belize. This may result in some flooding.
Disclaimer: CIMH is providing special weather interpretation of the current and forecasted tropical weather affecting the Caribbean region. CIMH is not an official forecasting agency.
Tropical Storm Warnings and Flash Flood Watches
- As at 5:00pm today, Monday June 19, 2017, the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS) has indicated that a Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for Trinidad and Tobago Grenada and its Dependencies. Tropical Storm conditions are expected Monday night into Tuesday.
- The ÐÓ°ÉÐÔ°É Meteorological Services (BMS) has discontinued the Tropical Storm Warning for ÐÓ°ÉÐÔ°É as of 8:00am today, June 19, 2017 and subsequently issued a Flash Flood Watch as at 12:30pm until 6:00pm, Monday June 19, 2017.
- The government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has discontinued the Tropical Storm Warning as at 11:00am, Monday June 19, 2017.
- A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect for 4 parishes in Jamaica (Clarendon, Manchester, St. Elizabeth and Westmoreland).
- Severe Weather Warning remains in effect for Guyana in Regions 7 and 8 and South Regions 6 and 9.
REGIONAL READINESS ACTIONS – CDEMA COORDINATING UNIT
The Regional Coordination Plan was activated at 7:00pm, Sunday June 18, 2017 and the Regional Response Mechanism (RRM) has been placed on standby. The CARICOM Disaster and Assessment Coordination (CDAC) Team as well as the CARICOM Operations Support Team (COST) have been placed on alert. The CARICOM Disaster Relief Unit (CDRU) has also been placed on alert with the support of the Regional Security System (RSS).
CDEMA CU has also been communicating with the National Disaster Offices that are in the path of the Tropical Storm. The CDEMA CU will prepare the operational plan with potential scenarios and pre impact analysis and estimates. This will be circulated by 600pm June 19th 2017.
Eastern Caribbean Development Partner Group (ECDPGDM) Meeting
A meeting of the Eastern Caribbean Development Partner Group – Disaster Management (ECDPG-DM) was convened today, Monday June 19, 2017 at 10:30am at the CDEMA Coordinating Unit. The meeting was co-chaired by the CDEMA’s Deputy Executive Director and the United Nations Resident Coordinator for ÐÓ°ÉÐÔ°É and the Eastern Caribbean area. Twenty seven (27) participants from national disaster offices, regional and international donor, humanitarian and development agencies (including 15 joining via online) were in attendance. The following updates were provided at the ECDPG-DM meeting. CDEMA is likely to convene another meeting by tomorrow once the system moves over the any of the threatened countries.
National Updates
ÐÓ°ÉÐÔ°É â€“ Department of Emergency Management (DEM)
- The Department of Emergency Management and the ÐÓ°ÉÐÔ°É Meteorological Service have been actively monitoring the system from June 16, 2017
- The Tropical Storm Warning has been discontinued for ÐÓ°ÉÐÔ°É at 8:00AM June 19, 2017
- A high surge advisory and small craft warning has been issued for ÐÓ°ÉÐÔ°É at 6:00AM
Grenada – National Disaster Management Agency (NaDMA)
- National Emergency Advisory Council (NEAC) met at 8:00am June 19, 2017
- School children to be released at 12:00 noon, today June 19, 2017
- A second meeting of the National Emergency Council is to be convened at 11:00AM, June 19, 2017
- The NEAC will consider a partial activation of the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) where necessary
Saint Lucia – National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO)
- NEMO and the Saint Lucia Meteorological Service met on June 18, 2017 and are scheduled to meet today, June 19, 2017 for further consultations
- NEMO has been monitoring and providing information to the public via press releases
Trinidad and Tobago – Office of Disaster Preparedness & Management (ODPM)
- The National Response Framework is fully activated
- This includes key Ministries and government departments
- Emergency support mechanism are on alert and are prepositioning equipment and personnel in areas of prime concern with the potential for high impact
- A meeting of the National Emergency Support Functions was convened
- The NEOC is partially activated and will go into 24 hr operations later today
- The public has been kept abreast via media products inclusive of a press conference
Institutional Updates
Global Affairs Canada (GAC)
- Confirmed the Government of Canada’s commitment to the provision of an airport specialist.
Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
- Advised that it is in contact with its offices in the threatened states
- Alerts have been sent out to all PAHO Staff in the threatened countries
- Regional Response Team members in ÐÓ°ÉÐÔ°É and other countries around the region are on alert
- Has been in contact with Washington to brief them
- Shared that the Health Disaster Coordinator’s meeting is scheduled to be convened in ÐÓ°ÉÐÔ°É this week.
Regional Security System (RSS)
- Executive Director has briefed the RSS Chair – Saint Lucia
- Both aircraft of the RSS are fueled and available to support deployment if required
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
- Contact has been made with the Sub-Regional Office in Jamaica which has responsibility for the countries which are under threat.
- The following can be made available: reproductive health kits, dignity and hygiene kits; technical guidance on gender based violence
United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF)
- Noted that supplies have been pre-positioned in ÐÓ°ÉÐÔ°É and Antigua
- A team in ÐÓ°ÉÐÔ°É is available to deploy if required and this can be supplemented from Panama
Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID OFDA)
- Confirmed the availability of US$50K which is available to impacted states on the request of the Government of the impacted country
- Confirmed support for movement of the RNAT (in small groups of up to 6 persons)
- Advised that OFDA surge capacity (volunteers) are on alert and available to be mobilized if required on a 1-2 day notification
CDEMA will continue to monitor the system and provide updates as is necessary.
CONTACT DETAILS: The CDEMA CU 24-hour contact number 1(246) 434-4880
The public is advised to…
- Monitor radio or television and other official sources of information for progress reports
- Update your personal family preparedness plan and action items according to that plan
- The website www.weready.org provides additional information