Message: Danny was upgraded to a Category 1 Hurricane at 11.00a.m this morning (August 20th 2015). CDEMA urges countries in the Northern Leeward Islands to continue monitoring and to review readiness plans.

THE SITUATION:

At 11.00 a.m. the center of Hurricane Danny , a Category 1 Hurricane, was located near latitude 12.5 North and longitude 44.8West or about 1090 miles East of the Lesser Antilles. Maximum sustained winds are near 75 mph with higher gusts. Hurricane Force winds extend outward from the centre up to 10 miles and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 60 miles from the center. The system is moving toward the west northwest near 12 mph and this general motion is expected to continue for the next couple of days.

PROGNOSIS:

According to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, there are no coastal watches or warnings in effect. The system currently poses no threat to the general public.

NATIONAL ACTIONS:

The CDEMA Coordinating Unit is in contact with the National Disaster Offices across the region.

Antigua, Jamaica, Montserrat St. Kitts/Nevis and Turks and Caicos Islands have reported that they are closely monitoring the progress of the system and are engaged in improving readiness actions. They have indicated that the general public has been alerted and also urged to give attention to their own individual preparedness.

REGIONAL ACTIONS:

The North Western (Jamaica) and Eastern (Antigua and Barbuda) Sub-Regional Disaster Emergency Response Operational Units of the CDEMA System have advised that they are ready to provide support in the event this should become necessary. These Units are located within the National Disaster Offices and support the CDEMA’s response coordination to affected countries within their respective groupings.

The CDEMA Coordinating Unit received a briefing this morning from the Caribbean Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology on the status of the system and an outlook for the next 48 hours. it should be noted that CIMH is not a forecasting agency but provides these briefings to the CDEMA CU to facilitate planning at the regional and national levels. Today’s briefing was also attended via Skype by the National Disaster Coordinator of Disaster Management Coordination Agency, Montserrat and the Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, Jamaica.

CDEMA will continue to monitor the system and provide updates as is necessary.

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

CONTACT DETAILS: The CDEMA CU 24-hour contact number 1(246) 434-4880