Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

With the possibility that Hurricane Dean could be in Jamaica's territorial waters by Sunday, the Meteorological Service has advised fishers and other marine operators that weather conditions are expected to steadily deteriorate during the next 48 to 72 hours.

As such, they have been urged to commence preparations to evacuate if the need arises.

At the same time, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has summoned the National Disaster Committee for a meeting today at Jamaica House. The meeting is to receive reports on the state of readiness of the various agencies and review the response strategy, should the island be affected by Hurricane Dean.

At 4:00 p.m. yesterday the centre of Hurricane Dean was located about 335 kilometres east north-east of Barbados and about 490 kilometres east of Martinique.

Category two

The hurricane's top sustained winds had reached 100 miles per hour (160 km per hour) by 5:00 p.m. yesterday, making it a Category Two storm on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale of hurricane intensity.

Computer models showed the hurricane could become an extremely dangerous Category Four storm by the time it moves past the south of Jamaica.

Moving towards the west

The Meteorological Service said yesterday that Dean was moving towards the west and this general motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours. The centre of Hurricane Dean is expected to cross over the Lesser Antilles early this morning.

Hurricane Dean could determine whether Jamaicans go to the polls on August 27. The Governor-General could, depending on how badly the island is affected, postpone the general election for up to 30 days.

Yesterday Danville Walker, the director of elections, told The Gleaner that the date for election workers and members of the security forces to vote, which is next Tuesday, could be shifted if the island is impacted by the hurricane.

Mrs. Simpson Miller said that while it may be too early to determine the eventual course the hurricane will take, it was important that all the necessary measures are in place to minimise any possible effects as well as ensure quick recovery should the island be impacted by the hurricane.

At today's meeting update reports will be presented by agencies such as the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), the Meteorological Service, Parish Disaster Committees and sub-committees on emergency operations and damage assessment.

ODPEM says it has:

Initiated its emergency response activities.

Put plans in place to respond to a possible hit by Hurricane Dean.

Contacted all the parish councils to be on alert and has initiated the process of pre-positioning supplies to regional stores.

Meanwhile, charity organisation Food for the Poor says it has taken the necessary steps to provide needed assistance in the event that the hurricane affects Jamaica.

Delroy Whyte-Hall, public relations manager at Food for the Poor said the voluntary-based organisation has stockpiled food, blankets, mattresses, lanterns, first aid supplies and other emergency items in warehouses at its head office in Florida and locally to deal with any eventualities.

And Steven Shaw, communications and customer service manager at the National Works Agency told The Gleaner yesterday that his organisation had developed a disaster management plan, following a meeting yesterday with its National Disaster Preparedness Committee.

The plan includes engaging the service of contractors with a view to opening blocked roadways if the need arises.

Meanwhile, Air Jamaica has put measures in place to assist passengers whose travel plans may be affected by the impending passage of Hurricane Dean.

According to Air Jamaica, passengers who are holding tickets to or from Barbados, Bonaire, Curacao, Grand Cayman, Grenada, Kingston, Montego Bay, Nassau and St. Lucia issued on or before August 16, for travel between August 17 and 24 may change their itinerary without penalty subject to certain conditions.

In a release yesterday, The Child Development Agency said the agency is taking a number of steps to ensure the safety and security of more than 2,800 children in residential care.

petrina.francis@gleanerjm.com