Hurricane Dean's wake: updates from Mexico & the Caribbean |
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| Death toll from Hurricane Dean rises
August 25, 2007
Hurricane Dean Update from Jamaica
Following is a detailed update from Jamaica with property reports, the condition of golf courses, power and road conditions, etc.
| Hurricane Dean Update |
| JAMAICA TOURIST BOARD - UPDATE #24 |
Published on 8/24/2007 12:00:00 AM |
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Kingston, Jamaica - Friday, August 24, 2007 – 5:30 p.m.
SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS ON THE TOURISM SECTOR IN JAMAICA
Information compiled from US based public relations agencies, JTB, and TEOC Assessment.
The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is reporting that there is currently a total of 64 shelters opened across the island, housing some 1,986 persons.
ROAD ACCESS:
Mount Rosser, Flat Bridge, the South Coast as well as the Negril to Montego Bay routes are all accessible to regular traffic.
Treasure Beach roads are now cleared, but caution is needed due to downed poles.
The main roads from Ocho Rios to Montego Bay and Negril are all clear.
POWER
Over 40% of Jamaica Public Service (JPS) customers now have their power supply, as a result of the efforts of JPS technical teams and contractors who have continued to work steadily to restore electricity to the island since the passage of Hurricane Dean on Sunday, August 19.
JPS remains optimistic that by Sunday, August 26, power will be restored to most areas in the following parishes: Kingston & St. Andrew, St. Catherine, St. James, Westmoreland, Hanover, Trelawny and St. Ann. The Company expects to have power supply restored to most customers in St. Thomas, Portland, and St. Mary by the end of next week. It could be weeks, however, before there is complete restoration in Clarendon, Manchester, and St. Elizabeth, as a result of the severe damage to the Company’s transmission network in the south of the island.
WATER
The National Water Commission (NWC) is pleased to report that a further 28 water supply systems have been put back into operation since yesterday based on the hardworking efforts of its field personnel as well as the effort of the JPSCo in restoring power to more water systems.
With the systems now back in operation, including most of the NWC’s largest systems, approximately 60% of the NWC’s production capacity is now back in operation although with a smaller percentage of the total 460 water supply systems islandwide.
The systems put back into operation since yesterday include:
Kingston and St. Andrew
Havendale Deepwell
Forest Hills Reservoir and Relift
Whitemarl # 1 and # 2
Drummond Filter Plant
Craig Hill
Hibbert Spring
St. Thomas
Georgia
Arntully Grove
Wilmington
Port Morant (50%)
Windsor Castle
Cedar Valley
Crab River
Trinityville
Portland
Guava Walk
Hope Bay
Lancaster
Haining
St. Catherine
Twickenham Park
Friendship
Angels
Central Village
St. James
Canaan
Ducketts
Irwindale
Porto Bello
Hanover
Esher
Batchelor’s Hall
These systems are in addition to those that were previously put back into operation and which continue to serve customers.
Inspite of this very significant achievement, the NWC continues to implore customers to expect occasional interruptions on these systems and instances of low water pressure as the systems are not yet stabilised or fully charged.
With more and more water supply systems now back in operation, the NWC is now concentrating all its efforts and resources on restoring the other systems into operation and trucking water to these remaining areas.
INTERNATIONAL CARRIERS AND OPERATORS
Continental Airlines
For the period August 23 to August 26, 2007, the following flights are scheduled from Continental Europe to Jamaica:
Friday, August 24
Air Italy (Livingston #) – Italy
Saturday, August 25
Jet Air – Belgium
Sunday, August 26
Volare/Air Europe – Italy
Air Canada Vacations – are operating business as usual.
Martin Air (Amsterdam) – continuing normally scheduled service.
Soltour (Spain) – Sending two empty aircrafts (one from MAD one from LIS) to Montego Bay to pick up visitors to return home. Have canceled this week's departure and will reinstate normal operation for week of August 27.
Sunquest Vacations - Operating flights to Jamaica this weekend, offering air-only specials for Jamaicans who want to go and visit families.
Sunwing - Have not been receiving a lot of cancellations from passengers, mainly date changes.
Thomas Cook (Germany) – Has confirmed decision to send guests on Condor and LTU this Wednesday, August 22 and Thursday, August 23.
JAMAICA AIRPORTS
Sangster International Airport and Norman Manley International Airport
All Air Jamaica flights to and from Kingston and Montego Bay, Jamaica will operate as scheduled today. Only passengers who are confirmed for travel today should go to the airport. Passengers not confirmed today should contact Air Jamaica reservations or their travel agent for rebooking. Passengers traveling today are advised to check in a minimum of three hours prior to scheduled departure.
Passengers are being asked to visit www.airjamaica.com or call Air Jamaica reservations for up-to-date information regarding your flight. In Jamaica: 1-888-FLY-AIR-J. In the USA, Canada or the Caribbean: 1-800-523-5585
RESORT AREA: MONTEGO BAY/FALMOUTH
ACCOMMODATIONS/ ATTRACTIONS | STATUS REPORTED | Bamboo Village | Damage. |
Breezes Montego Bay | Open. | Chukka Caribbean | Open. | Coyaba | Minimal damage. 100% occupied. | Doctor's Cave | No structural damage. | Half Moon | No structural damage –accepting guests. | Holiday Inn | No structural damage. Open. | Iberostar Rose Hall | No structural damage. | Ritz Carlton | Accepting new reservations on Thurs, Aug. 23. | Riu Montego Bay | Open. | Rose Hall Resort & Country Club | No Damage, Renovating opening November 15th. | Round Hill | Open. | Royal DeCameron | No damage. | Sandals Inn | No structural damage. | Sandals Montego Bay | No structural damage. | Sandals Royal Caribbean | No structural damage. | Sunset Beach Resort & Spa | Open. | Tryall | Minimal damage. Reopen this weekend. |
RESORT AREA: KINGSTON
Overall Status
Some damage to hotels in New Kingston. See Table below:
ACCOMMODATIONS/ ATTRACTIONS | STATUS REPORTED | | | Altamont Court Hotel | Minimal damage to roof, foliage. | Courtleigh Hotel | Minimal damage – windows, foliage, etc. | Hilton Hotel | Open | Pegasus Hotel | Temporarily out of service. | Strawberry Hill | Will open Friday August 24. |
RESORT AREA: OCHO RIOS
Overall Status
No major damage was reported. See Table below:
ACCOMMODATIONS/ ATTRACTIONS | STATUS REPORTED | Bahia Principe | Minimal damage. | Beaches Boscobel | No structural damage. | Breezes Runaway Bay | Open. | Chukka Caribbean | Open | Couples Ocho Rios | Open. | Couples San Souci | Open. | Dolphin Cove | Open. | Dunn’s River Falls | Open. | FDR | Open. | FDR Pebbles | Open. | Goldeneye | No structural damage; accepting guests Weds. Aug. 22. | Grand Lido Braco | Open. | Green Grotto | Open. | Heart Academy | Minimal damage. | Hedonism III | Open. | Island Village | Open | Jamaica Inn | Open. | Prospect Plantation | Open. | Riu Mammee Bay | No damage | Rooms on the Beach | Open. | Rooms on the Beach | Normal. | Royal Plantation | Normal. | Runaway Bay HEART Hotel | No damage. Open for business. | Sand Castles | Open for business. | Sandals Dunn's River | No structural damage. | Sandals Grande Ocho Rios | No structural damage. | Sans Souci | No damage. | Shaw Park | No damage. | Starfish Trelawny | Open. | Sunset Jamaica Grande | Open. |
RESORT AREA: SOUTHCOAST /MANDEVILLE
Overall Status
No land phone lines working. Cellular service working as of Tuesday, August 21. In Mandeville, trees down, roof damage to houses. See Table below:
ACCOMMODATIONS/ ATTRACTIONS | STATUS REPORTED | Appleton Estate | Sustained minimal damage and will be open for business August 23. | Astra Hotel | Has reported some water damage. | Black River Safari | Tours are open but some buildings are damaged. | Golf View Hotel | Has reported some water damage. | Holland Bamboo | Damaged & road at Goshen under water with alternate route. | Jake's | Will open on September 28. | Little Ochi | Open. | Lovers Leap | Suffered some damage and is not open. | Mandeville Hotel | One block of rooms out as they lost the roof at that block also water damage. | Pelican Bar | Open. | Sandals Whitehouse | No structural damage. | Time Square Duty Free Shopping Mall | Is open for business as usual. Power was restored at about 11:00 a.m. and we have informed the Negril hotel and businesses of our resumption of service to the community. | Villa Bella | Has lost a part of their roof and there is damage to the kitchen but the hotel is open for business. | YS Falls | Sustained minimal damage, but will be open for business August 22. |
Jake's Resort
According to Island Outpost President and Jake's Owner, Jason Henzell, “These forces of nature tend to bring out the best in people - my staff and community are incredible. Spirits are high, and our faith is stronger now than ever.” Jake's resort has established a hurricane relief fund through Breds - The Treasure Beach Foundation (USA), which Henzell runs for the less fortunate who have property damage, no insurance, no support system, especially to the sick and elderly. The initiative is also in concert with Treasurebeach.net, a community web site, “The Jamaican spirit is strong, and with that, we know we will prevail all obstacles. Faith is the strongest asset of any nation, and for Jamaicans, it is the gold standard.”
BREDS, TREASURE BEACH FOUNDATION is a non-profit organization established in 1998 to promote education, sports, cultural heritage, environmental awareness and more recently emergency healthcare in Treasure Beach. The long-term vision for Breds is to establish Treasure Beach as a model for low-density, environmentally friendly, sustainable community in Jamaica. The term “Breds” short for Brethren -- has for generations, been a familiar way of hailing a person from this local fishing community. To make a contribution, please call (876) 965 3000 or visit www.breds.org; info@breds.org.
RESORT AREA: PORTLAND
Overall Status
Minimal damages, trees down and water is still available in some areas. See Table below:
ACCOMMODATIONS/ ATTRACTIONS | STATUS REPORTED | Fern Hill Hotel | No significant damage to report. | Jamaica Palace | Minimal damage. |
RESORT AREA: NEGRIL
Overall Status
Minimal damage to properties in region, however loss of foliage. Few utility poles down. West End road was blocked but has since been cleared. Most other areas clear. Road from Orange Hill to Frome mainly intact. See Table below:
ACCOMMODATIONS/ ATTRACTIONS | STATUS REPORTED | Beaches Negril | No structural damage. | Beaches Sandy Bay | No structural damage. | Couples Negril | Open. | Couples Swept Away | Open. | Grand Lido Negril | Open. | Hedonism II | Open. | Idle a While | No damage. | Mariners Inn | No damage. | Merrills Beach | No damage. | Point Village | No damage. | Rick’s Cafe | Slight damage. | Rock House | No damage. | Rondel Village | Open. | Riu Negril | Open. | Riu Tropical Bay | Open. | Sandals Negril | No structural damage. | Sunset at the Palms | No structural damage, will reopen for arrivals on Aug. 21. | Tensing Pen | Two villas roofs damaged. | The Caves | No structural damage. Open Thurs. Aug. 23. | White Sands | No damage. |
Time Square Duty Free Shopping Mall - Is open for business as usual. Power was restored at about 11:00 a.m. and we have informed the Negril hotel and businesses of our resumption of service to the community.
Hedonism II - Has announced that all systems are operational. The resort sustained minor damages to its foliage and some sections of the main beach were eroded. However there were no structural damages and business will therefore continue as per usual.
All debris in the main areas of the resort has been cleared as of Monday afternoon and all pools have been cleaned and are presently functional. All Watersports activities and operations will be operational as of tomorrow.
GOLF COURSE UPDATES
Breezes Runaway Bay Golf Course currently in operation
Negril Hills Golf Course currently in operation
Cinanamon Hill Golf Course currently in operation
Half-Moon now fully operational with golf course now open for use by patrons. Also at Half Moon, the hotel is welcoming a group today for a wedding scheduled for this weekend.
White Witch Golf Course now in operation
Sandals Golf and Country Club now up and running
Tryall Golf Course now open
In response to the recent Hurricane Dean, Basil Smith Director of Jamaica Tourist Board said, “We currently have recovery teams on the ground surveying the damage. Initial reports show that w e fared reasonably well. The majority of damage suffered was mostly to landscaping and utility poles. Damage to hotels is limited and in general the Hotel sector is in good shape.
JAMAICAN PARISHES
Jamaican parishes have been affected in the following ways:
St. Andrew (east including Kingston)
Tree and sign damage
Light poles down
Some roof damage
No serious hotel damage yet reported
Road erosion in Helshire
St. Ann (central north - including Ocho Rios)
Very little rain was experienced. Wind damage still being assessed.
Substantial amount of damage to roads.
No electricity, but have water.
St. James (west including Montego Bay)
Very little rain was experienced. Wind damage still being assessed.
Hanover (west)
Minimal damage
St. Thomas (south east)
Severe wind damage reported to roofs and landscape
Roads blocked
Communication has not yet been established with the parish
The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is reporting that over the past two days at least 10 initial damage assessment field visits, coordinated by the ODPEM, have been undertaken in the parishes of St Catherine, Clarendon, Manchester, St. Elizabeth and Kingston and St. Andrew. The teams consisted of representatives of donor agencies and were led by ODPEM/local team leaders.
General observation of damage in all parishes includes:
Impassable roads due to fallen trees, downed poles and power lines, and storm surge debris.
Absence of regular water supply in several areas.
Varying degrees of damage to households.
Actions Taken
The following are some of the actions undertaken by the ODPEM so far:
The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) continues to be activated.
Resource and Needs lists are constantly being compiled.
Periodic parish updates are done to monitor shelters across the island and their status.
Three water tanks along with collapsible containers dispatched to Portland Cottage.
Monitoring of shelters and feeding of shelterees.
Welfare assessment teams have been deployed.
Relief distribution carried out to Old Harbour and Clarendon.
Continued collation of Damage Assessment data.
Parish Emergency Operations Centres (EOCs) have been deactivated in the Southern Region
Actions to be Taken
The ODPEM has identified the following to be done:
Continuation of damage assessment activities.
Food drops to the cut-off communities of Somerset, Mansfield, Tower Hill, Lime Tree and Spring Bank.
Continued attempts to re-establish communication links with affected parishes.
Servicing of shelters with water by the National Water Commission (NWC).
Arrangement of relief distribution for affected communities in St. Thomas.
Relief distribution for open shelters.
Establishing of satellite water distribution stations.
AIRLINE | AIRCRAFT TYPE | FLIGHT NUMBER | FROM | TO | Est. arrival time | Est. depart time |
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