US embassy cable - 05KINGSTON1734

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINGSTON 001734 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AIDAC 
 
STATE ALSO PASS TO USAID 
USAID/W FOR A/AID ANDREW NATSIOS, 
DCHA/AA MHESS, WGARVELINK, LROGERS 
DCHA/OFDA KISAACS, GGOTTLIEB, MMARX, RTHAYER, MPOPP, SWESTRICK 
USAID/LAC FOR AA/LAC, LAC/CEN, LAC/CAR, FOR GBARTH, DRILEY, 
DCHA/FFP BKRAHAM, LLANDIS, DWELLER 
STATE WHA/CAR FOR BBENT, EWOLFSON 
USDOC FOR ITA/TD/OETCA/WDEAN BUSBY 
3134/USFCS/IO/WH/REBECCA MAN 
4322/ITA/IEP/WH/OMCB/MBROOKS 
SANTO DOMINGO FOR USFCS 
SAN JOSE FOR TCALLAGHAN, BRIDGETOWN FOR JLEONARD 
BRUSSELS FOR USEU PLERNER 
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH, RMA 
NSC FOR JMELINE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: BF, ECON, EINV 
SUBJECT: USAID/OFDA Hurricane Dennis Situation Report 1 
 
 
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Summary 
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1.  Weather conditions are improving in most parts 
of Jamaica from the passage of Hurricane Dennis on 
July 7, 2005.  The Government of Jamaica's Office 
of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management 
(ODPEM) is compiling damage reports from community 
disaster committees in the Parishes.  So far the 
most affected parishes are St. Thomas and St. Mary 
in the eastern part of the island.  The 
Meteorological Service has discontinued the 
hurricane warning for Jamaica as Hurricane Dennis 
continues to move away.  The island is now outside 
the range of hurricane and storm force winds 
associated with the tropical cyclone.  USAID/OFDA 
in Jamaica is coordinating with ODPEM, the Jamaica 
Red Cross, and U.S. Embassy officials regarding 
upcoming damage assessments and possible U.S. 
Government (USG) humanitarian assistance.  End 
Summary. 
 
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Hurricane Dennis Misses Jamaica 
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2.  Hurricane Dennis skirted the Jamaican North 
Coast on 07 July, without making landfall on 
Jamaica.  The Hurricane brought large amounts of 
rain to the northeastern and southeastern coast of 
Jamaica.  This has caused flooding in many 
communities in the region and made many secondary 
routes impassable to land traffic. 
 
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Status Reports 
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3.  According to ODPEM up to 6pm on July 7 2005, 
the effects of Hurricane Dennis had affected 27 
communities across four parishes in eastern 
Jamaica.  At the time they reported 65 shelters in 
11 parishes open with a population of more than 
1,900 people.  ODPEM reports that some shelters 
are facing food distribution difficulties, as new 
arrivals are not bringing sufficient food supplies 
with them.  There has been 1 unconfirmed reported 
death in Seaforth, St. Thomas.  No other 
casualties assisted with the event have been 
reported to date. Most early reports are of 
flooding, overflowing rivers and gullies and 
landslides in the eastern parishes of St, Thomas, 
St. Catherine, Kingston and St. Andrew (including 
4 houses washed away). 
 
4.  The GOJ and ODPEM reacted rapidly to activate 
their staff and put in action their shelter plan. 
Both Radio and Television provide timely 
information to the population on precautions that 
should be taken and the population reacted in an 
orderly manner.  The Hotel association of Jamaica 
also made the appropriate and necessary plans for 
the large tourist population on the North coast. 
ODPEM has requested the generation of Parish needs 
lists from their Parish Disaster Committees. 
 
5.  The Norman Manley and Donald Sangster 
International Airports were closed on July 7 and 
reopened at 10a.m. local time. Some Flooding is 
reported in 3 communities in St. Thomas, with 
landslides and overflowing rivers in Hagley Gap, 
Hillside, Lloyds and Morant Bay in St. Thomas.  In 
St. Andrew, there were reports of blocked roads 
from landslides, houses washed away and the 
destruction of a Banana Plantation in Durham Gap 
in the Blue Mountains.  Flooding is also reported 
in Kingston along the Norman Manley Highway and 
Washington Gardens. 
 
6.  ODPEM has reported that the need for search 
and rescue equipment to reach communities isolated 
and stranded from flooding, high waters, and 
landslides. Communities were isolated by rising 
waters and the fire brigades arranged for their 
movement to safe ground.  Sections of the Bangor 
Ridge Community have been evacuated by the 
Portland Parish Council.  Rescue operations are 
now being attempted in the following sections of 
the island which are under threat from rising 
waters: Seaforth, and Lloyds in St. Thomas; Gordon 
Town, Bull Bay, and Hope River in St. Andrew. 
 
 
7.  As of the last received situation report from 
ODPEM, the only need at this time is for search 
and rescue equipment.  USAID/OFDA recently 
provided 8 zodiac-type boats with motors for 
Hurricane Ivan response operations in Sept 2004. 
OFDA Staff will coordinate with ODPEM on the 
utilization of these boats for the search and 
rescue operations.  ODPEM is currently doing a 
full assessment of damages and needs of the 
affected areas and will provide a full report on 
response actions and needs.  No request for 
outside assistance has yet been made by ODPEM. 
Once the full assessment is made, there may be a 
further request for assistance. 
 
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Cayman Islands and Cuba on Alert for Dennis 
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8. All warnings and watches have been lifted for 
the Cayman Islands.  A hurricane warning is in 
effect for the Cuban provinces of La Habana, 
Cuidad de La Habana, Matanzas, Villa Clara, 
Cienfuegos, Sancti Spiritus, Ciego de Avila, 
Camaguey, Las Tunas, Granma, Santiago de Cuba, 
Holguin, and Guantanamo.  A hurricane watch 
remains in effect for the Isle of Youth and the 
province of Piar del Rio.