Country Braces For Hurricane Gustav

As Hurricane Gustav becomes better organized, the Meteorological Office of Jamaica has placed the island under Hurricane Warning, with immediate effect.
A hurricane warning means that dangerous conditions could be experienced within the next 24 hours or less. These conditions include: high winds, floods and storm surges.
The public is being advised to treat the situation seriously, as the current path will see the storm moving along Jamaica’s South Coast.
The public is being urged to continue monitoring radios and televisions for further advisories and to avoid areas that are at risk from flooding and landslides.
In the meantime, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), is advising members of the public to take the following precautions in the event of heavy rains:
. Avoid flooded waterways, gullies, streams or rivers, either on foot or in vehicles.. Be ready to evacuate if you live in low-lying or flood-prone areas.. Decide on likely evacuation routes now. Plan to stay with family or friends in safer areas or in a public shelter and move to safety.. Wrap important personal items, family documents, and electrical appliances in plastic bags and store away from the reach of flood waters.. All small craft operators, including fishers from the cays and banks, are advised to secure their vessels and remain in safe harbour until all warning messages have been lifted and wind and sea conditions have returned to normal. The ODPEM has also announced that some shelters on their priority list will be given special attention and activated if the need arises. These shelters are:
St. Catherine Kingston & St. Andrew Portmore & St. Thomas1. Guys Hill High School2. Old Harbour High School3. Spanish Town Primary4. Linstead All Age School5. Troja Junior High6. G.C. Foster College7. Sligoville All Age 8. Gwen Neal Basic School, Compound, Central Village9. Inswood High School 1. Friendship Brook All Age School2. Golden Spring Community Centre3. Westphalia All Age School4. Hall’s Delight Junior High School5. Bloxburgh Primary and Infant School6. Somerset All Age School7. Edith Dalton James High School8. Riverton Basic School/Learning Centre9. Kintyre Community Centre 1. Southborough2. Portsmouth3. Naggo Head4. Gregory Park Primary5. Kensington6. HEART Academy7. Hellshire United Church
1. Morant Bay Primary2. Yallahs Primary3. St. Thomas Technical4. Seaforth High5. Seaforth Primary
The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), headquartered at the ODPEM’s offices at 12 Camp Road, Kingston 4, will continue to closely monitor the progress of Gustav.