Cuba - Hurricane IRMA Update

Thu, 14 Sep 2017 06:36:00 +02:00

Irma is one of the most critical disasters faced by Cuba in the past 60 years. As a Category 5 Hurricane, Irma has affected almost 80% of the territory. The largest impact is in 7 provinces (Villa Clara, Sancti Spiritus, Ciego Avila, Camaguey, Matanzas, Las Tunas, Holguin) and in the capital city, La Havana. Preliminary reports indicate substantial losses in housing, energy, water and sanitation, agriculture, education, health, telecommunications, and tourism (one of the main sources of income).
A significant number of people are still evacuated. Lack of electricity and regular supply of water to the population is mainly reported in the central and western territories.
The National Council and the Provincial and National Councils of Civil Defence remain activated, closely following the recovery work and the assessment of damages caused by Irma. The National Defence Council continues to assess damage and set priorities for the Hurricane Recovery Phase in 13 out of the 15 provinces in the country.

Hurricane IRMA UPDATE

Mon, 11 Sep 2017 06:38:00 +02:00

Hurricane IRMA continued moving west-northwest reaching the northern coast of Cuba on 9 September morning (UTC) as a Category 5 Hurricane. It passed over Florida Keys on 10 September afternoon (UTC) as a Category 4 Hurricane, over Marco Island and Naples (Florida) in the evening as a Category 3 Hurricane. Then it continued heading north-west moving inland crossing central northern Florida counties weakening.
On 11 September its centre was located near Tampa Lakeland area still a Category 2 Hurricane. Heavy rain, very strong winds and storm surge affected these areas during its passage.
Over the next 24 h, it is forecast to keep moving west-northwest over western Florida peninsula and southern Georgia, weakening into a Category 1 Hurricane or Tropical Storm. Heavy rain, strong winds and storm surge could still affect these areas during its passage. A few tornadoes are possible across northeast Florida and southeast portions of Georgia and South Carolina.
As of 11 September 6.00 UTC (NOAA), a Storm Surge Warning is in effect for South Santee River southward to Jupiter Inlet, North Miami Beach southward around the Florida peninsula to the Ochlockonee River, Florida Keys and Tampa Bay; a Hurricane Warning is in effect for North of Jupiter Inlet to Fernandina Beach, North of Bonita Beach to Indian Pass and Lake Okeechobee
As of 11 September, at least 22 people have died (11 in St Martin-St Maarten-St Barth, one in Anguilla, four in the British Virgin Islands, four in the United States Virgin Islands, one in Barbados and one in Barbuda), thousands displaced and hundreds in temporary shelters. Local media, also reported at least three people died in Florida State and several people slightly injured and at least 10 000 people evacuated in northern Cuba.
Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides, announced today an amount of humanitarian assistance of € 2 million for the most affected islands. This comes in addition to an initial support of € 158,000 to the Red Cross volunteers' response in Antigua and Barbuda, Dominican Republic and Haiti.

Caribbean - Hurricane IRMA Update

Fri, 08 Sep 2017 05:50:00 +02:00

Hurricane IRMA has passed the northern Leeward Islands, Barbuda and Saint Martin, British and US Virgin Islands and the north of Puerto Rico on 6 September. On 7 September, it passed north of the Dominican Republic and Haiti, still as a category 5 hurricane. Heavy rain, very strong winds and storm surge affected these areas. On 8 September at 6.00 UTC, its centre was located approximately 30 km north of Great Inagua Island (the Bahamas).
Over the next 48 hours, it is forecast to keep moving west-northwest over southern Bahamas and north of Cuba as a category 4-5 hurricane. It could reach southern Florida on 10-11 September.
Copernicus Emergency Management Service is providing satellite maps for Guadeloupe, Saint Barthélémy, Saint Martin, Sint Maarten and areas of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. 28 maps have been produced so far.
The Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) is in contact with all participating states in the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, especially those with affected overseas territories.
For the time being, DG ECHO is supporting a Disaster Relief Emergency Fund operation by the International Federation of the Red Cross, providing basic relief kits to Antigua and Barbuda. The Commission's regional humanitarian aid office in the region stands ready to coordinate assistance.
A team of Commission humanitarian experts combining different fields of expertise is in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. In addition, an EU Civil Protection Team of 15 experts is also on standby, ready to be deployed in case a request for assistance is received through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

Caribbean - Hurricane IRMA Update

Thu, 07 Sep 2017 06:50:00 +02:00

Hurricane IRMA continued moving west-northwest as a category 5 hurricane, reaching on 6 September the northern Leeward Islands, Barbuda and Saint Martin, British and US Virgin Islands. Heavy rain, very strong winds and storm surge affected these areas. A storm surge of 2.5 m was measured in Barbuda. On 7 September at 3.00 UTC, its centre was located approx. 135 km north-northwest of San Juan city (Puerto Rico, USA) with max. sustained winds of 295 km/h.
The centre of IRMA is expected to pass north of Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Haiti on 7-8 September, south of the Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas on 8-9 September, and north of Cuba on 9-10 September. It could reach southern Florida (USA) on 10-11 September, still as a category 4 or 5 hurricane.
Copernicus Emergency Management Service has been activated by France for Guadeloupe, Saint Barthélémy and Saint Martin on 5 September. Seven maps have been produced so far. In addition, DG ECHO activated Copernicus for Haiti and the Dominican Republic on 6 September. Nine maps have been produced so far.
Furthermore, a team of DG ECHO humanitarian experts is in Haiti and in the Dominican Republic. The Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) is in contact with all Participating States in the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and stands ready to channel assistance if requested. An EU Civil Protection Team is on standby.
Media reported, as of 7 September, that eight people died, 21 were injured and 1 400 people were displaced in the Leeward Islands. Moreover, 95% of the houses were damaged in Barbuda island.

Caribbean - Hurricane IRMA Update

Wed, 06 Sep 2017 06:47:00 +02:00

Hurricane IRMA continues moving west-northwest, approaching the island of Barbuda. It is significantly strengthening (category 5 hurricane), becoming the most powerful hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic.
On 6 September at 6.00 UTC, its centre was located approx. 10 km north of Barbuda and 65 km north of Antigua. It had maximum sustained winds of 295 km/h. Over the next 24 hours, it is forecast to move over the north of the Leeward Islands. It will then pass north of Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Haiti on 7-8 September, and across Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas and north of Cuba on 8-10 September. It could reach southern Florida (USA) on 10-11 September, still as a category 4 or 5 hurricane.
Over the next five days, heavy rain, very strong winds and storm surge could affect all of these areas. In the Dominican Republic, 32 provinces are in alert, including 17 in red alert. Haiti is in pre-alert mode and the the National Emergency Operations Centre (COUN) will be fully activated today. In the northern departments, emergency stocks are being pre-positioned and the Ministry of Health has mobilized cholera response units. In Cuba, informative phase is ongoing. In Antigua and Barbuda, the Red Cross has organized preparedness actions. Two military cargo planes are on standby in Venezuela and two others are being loaded in Miami. It is expected that Barbuda will be severely hit. In Saint Kitts and Nevis, preparedness actions are organized with pre-positioned stocks.
Copernicus Emergency Management Service has been activated by France for Guadeloupe, Saint Barthélémy and Saint Martin.

In addition, a new tropical cyclone named JOSE formed over the Atlantic Ocean on 5 September and started moving in the same direction as IRMA. On the same date, tropical cyclone THIRTEEN formed over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico as a tropical depression. It is expected to drift southeast, strengthening but remaining offshore of Mexico.

Leeward Islands - Hurricane IRMA

Mon, 04 Sep 2017 04:59:00 +02:00

Hurricane IRMA continues moving west over the Atlantic Ocean, significantly strengthening and becoming a major hurricane (category 3).
Over the next 24 hours, it is forecast to continue moving towards Leeward Islands, becoming a category 4 hurricane. IRMA is expected to approach the northern Leeward Islands on 6 September morning (UTC).
Over the next four days, heavy rain, strong winds and storm surge could affect the Leeward Islands as well as Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and the Bahamas.