Message: Hurricane Matthew continues to intensify while moving west-southwestward over the Caribbean Sea. Now a Category 3 hurricane, Matthew is expected to remain over the central Caribbean Sea through early Sunday. Interests in Jamaica should continue to monitor the progress of Matthew.

EVENT:
Hurricane Matthew, the 5th named hurricane of the 2016 Atlantic Hurricane season, was formed near the Windward Islands on September 28, 2016. As a Tropical Storm, Matthew impacted Barbados, Dominica, Saint Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Wednesday September 28, 2016.

On Friday September 30, 2016 at 11: 00 AM AST (1500 UTC), the center of Hurricane Matthew was located near latitude 13.7 North, longitude 70.8 West, and approximately 495 miles (800km) SE of Kingston, Jamaica. Matthew is moving toward the west-southwest near 12 mph (19 km/h), and a general westward motion with some decrease in forward speed is expected through Saturday.

PROGNOSIS:
Reports from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicated that maximum sustained winds have increased to near 115 mph (185 km/h) with higher gusts. Little change in strength is expected during the next 48 hours. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles (55 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 195 miles (315 km). A turn toward the west-northwest is expected Saturday night followed by a turn toward the northwest by early Sunday.

NATIONAL ACTIONS:

Eastern-Caribbean Participating States
The CDEMA CU continues to receive updates from the National Disaster Coordinators (NDCs) in Barbados, Dominica, Saint Lucia and St. Vincent & the Grenadines regarding their status post-Tropical Storm (TS) Matthew. All Participating States within this region have given the all-clear.

Barbados
The Government of Barbados has reported that no significant damage has occurred, but advised that ongoing assessments continue. The “All Clear” for the island was given at 5:45am on Thursday, and the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) was deactivated at approximately 11:30am.

Needs
No immediate needs identified at this time.

Dominica
The Government has reported that no significant damage has occurred, but advised that ongoing assessments continue. The All-Clear was issued at 6:00 a.m. on Thursday 29th September 2016.

Needs
No immediate needs identified at this time.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines
The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines gave the ‘All-Clear’ at 11:00am on Thursday, September 29th, and its NEOC remains partially activated as clean up operations commences and damage assessments continue.

Needs
No immediate needs identified at this time.

Saint Lucia
The island reported major flooding in all quadrants as well as landslides in Ti Kaye in Anse-la-Raye, La Caye, Upper Thomazo, and Aux-Lyons in Dennery. Damage Assessments and Needs Analysis (DANA) continue across all sectors and communities. Preliminary assessments indicate widespread damage to the agriculture sector. As much as 85% of agricultural farms experienced damages. Road clearance continues as well as the restoration of utilities - water, electricity and community services.

Needs
Needs are being quantified at this time.

North-Western Participating States
The CDEMA CU is in contact with the National Disaster Offices (NDOs) of Bahamas, Jamaica, Haiti and Turks and Caicos Islands regarding their preparations for the probable impact from Hurricane Matthew. The Governments of these islands have been briefed and have commenced pre-strike meetings and will continue to monitor the system.

In Turks and Caicos Islands, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office – Gov UK have been briefed. All response agencies and district commissioners have been placed on alert. In the Bahamas, the National Disaster Committee convened a pre-impact meeting and continues to monitor the system.

REGIONAL ACTIONS:
CDEMA continues to monitor the system and provide updates as is necessary. The Regional Coordination Plan remains activated and the Regional Response Mechanism (RRM) continues to be on standby. The CARICOM Disaster Relief Unit (CDRU), the CARICOM Disaster Assessment and Coordination (CDAC) team and CARICOM Operational Support Team (COST) have stood down for the Eastern Caribbean, but remains on alert for the impending threat of Hurricane Matthew on the North Western Caribbean.

The CDEMA CU continues to monitor Hurricane Matthew and has initiated the following actions:

• Maintained regular contact with impacted and threatened Participating States
• Developed and shared an Operational Scenario and Plan for ‘Hurricane Matthew’ for States threatened in the North Western Caribbean
• Scheduling a briefing for Saturday, October 1, 2016 with the RRM partners in the North-western region.
• Regional response teams are on alert - CARICOM Disaster Relief Unit (CDRU), CARICOM Disaster Response and Assessment Coordination Team (CDAC) and the CARICOM Operational Support Team (COST) and the Rapid Needs Assessment team (RNAT)
• Preliminary impact assessments, based on current population data and project/actual impact are being developed for the North Western PSs and these will be verified from the initial situation overviews post impact.

SUB-REGIONAL ACTIONS:
The Governments of Antigua and Barbuda, and Trinidad and Tobago have pledged their support to the North-Western sub-region should they be impacted by Hurricane Matthew.

CDEMA continues to monitor the system and provide updates as necessary.

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