Hurricane Michelle update

By:Iñigo Barrena and Cristina Estrada

At 4 PM Friday Nov 2, the centre of Hurricane Michelle was located about 415 km south-Southeast of the western tip of Cuba. Maximum sustained winds are estimated to be near 140 km/hr and additional strengthening is likely over the next 24 hr. Currently a category 1 hurricane, Michelle could become a major hurricane during the next day or two.

Cuba:

A hurricane watch is in effect in the western provinces of Cuba: Pinar del Rio, La Havana, Havana Coty, Matanzas and the Isle of Youth. 41,000 students have been evacuated and so has the population in the mountains of the affected area. All the tourists from Cayo Largo have also been evacuated.

There is a great danger of floods since quarter of the dams situated between Pinar del Rio and Ciego de Avila (two provinces under alert) have reached 100% of their capacity and the ground is saturated due to current rains.

Since end of October heavy rains have been affecting the island causing floods in 10 communities in the provinces of Ciego de Avila, Camaguey, Holguin y Guantanamo. 3200 persons were evacuated in Holguin and 463 in Camaguey.

Cuban Red Cross and the emergency intervention groups are under alert. Volunteers have been selected to attend temporary refugee shelters. National Society radio communications have been activated, so has the search and rescue agency. Cuban Red Cross hurricane TV spot is been regularly shown on and close liaison with the civil defence has been established.

Jamaica

Jamaica Red Cross has been assisting flood victims in Portland, St. Mary and St. Ann and has launched a massive Relief operation in the disaster-affected parishes of Portland, St. Mary and St. Ann.

Since last weekend the eastern part of the island, in the parishes of Portland, St. Mary and St. Ann has been affected by landslides, floods caused by five days of continuous rainfall. To date some 130 families(780 people) affected by the disaster have received food, blankets as well as hygiene articles. The distribution were carried out by volunteers of the Jamaica Red Cross Portland, St. Ann and St. Mary branches. A total of 30 communities have been affected and has left 2 persons dead and some 400 families homeless.

Regional Disaster Preparedness delegate is waiting for Jamaican Red Cross assessment in order to evaluate the necessity of a possible response from the International Federation.

Regional Delegation Response

The Regional Delegation in Santo Domingo, Dominican republic, has agreed with the Cuban Red Cross to deploy Cristina Estrada, the Regional Information and Reporting delegate, who will arrive in La Havana tomorrow, Saturday 3 Nov, to help promoting the work of the National Society during the emergency and to support the in the elaboration of the Appeal if needed.

Cuban Red Cross has the capacity and resources to respond to a possible emergency, therefore no Disaster Preparedness delegate is needed so far. The Regional Delegation is monitoring the situation in close collaboration with the regional ECHO office in Santo Domingo.

La Federación, las Sociedades Nacionales y el Comité Internacional de la Cruz Roja constituyen el Movimiento Internacional de la Cruz Roja y de la Media Luna Roja. Para mayor información sobre las actividades de la Federación, véase nuestro sitio web: www.ifrc.org.