more than a ruler lash on the knuckle..
by admin
This is a satellite picture of Hurricane Dean, which is heading for Jamaica.
I am reading news stories about locals who refuse to leave their homes, some say Kingston is just too violent. There are tourists who refuse to leave as well. Some insist that they will be on their knees praying, in the Sandals resort.
From the Jamaica Observer:
In addition to bottled water and non-perishable food items, Jamaicans bought water tanks, ply sheets and generators.
At QD & Ace Hardware on Red Hills Road in Kingston, manager Jason Walker told the Sunday Observer that tarpaulin, nails, hammers and other tools, screws, rope, lanterns, batteries and lumber were the main items being purchased.
“We have sold out on quite a few other items, but right now it’s just chaos, so I can’t even remember,” said Walker, as customers swarmed him to inquire about certain items.
In the depressed community of New Haven, a 70-something year-old woman, who declined to give her name, was doing her last-minute shopping at a community grocery shop.
Her purchase: a single stick of candle and a lighter.
“Mi no have no money fi dem kind a shopping deh,” she said of the heavy buying being done by others. “All I could buy is a lighter and a candle. Mi no have money fi do no shopping.”
From as early as seven o’clock yesterday morning, a large crowd of people started gathering outside the National Bakery store on Half-Way-Tree Road waiting to purchase bun, bread and biscuits. At one point the police had to be called in to maintain calm.
from the government site:
The ODPEM is advising the public to take the following precautions:
1. Stay tuned to the news and weather reports and listen out for emergency instructions, if any should be given.
2. Remain calm. Do not panic. Your ability to act logically is important during stressful events like a hurricane.
3. Wrap important documents such as passports, deeds and titles, birth certificates, ID cards, insurance policies in plastic and take them with you.
4. Ensure that adequate water is stored for domestic purposes.
5. Move furniture away from windows.
6. Check your arrangements for household pets. If you have made arrangements for them to be kept elsewhere, take them there now. If they are staying with you, make sure they have adequate food and water.
7. If your roof should come off and if the house or building shows signs of breaking up get in the closet or the bathtub and pull the mattress over your body for protection.
8. If you are away from home remain where you are until the storm has passed. Many people lose their lives trying to get from place to place during a hurricane.
9. There will be a brief period of calm weather. This is called the eye of the hurricane. It usually lasts for only a short while - from a few minutes to half and hour or more - and the winds return from the opposite direction. Please do not be fooled into thinking that the storm is over. Remain inside.
the latest:
The center of Powerful Hurricane Dean is now just 70 miles away from Kingston, Jamaica. Hurricane-force winds are now likely in full gear especially across the southeastern portion of the island nation. Waves are battering the southern and eastern shore and torrential rains have begun.
As Hurricane Dean heads west-northwest, the northern end of its eyewall is now beginning to unleash a harsh blow to Jamaica this afternoon and into the evening hours. The eastern half of Jamaica will first feel the effects of Dean while the western half will deal with the worst from Dean later this evening.
Rainfall amounts will be in the 5 to 10 inch range with some areas receiving as much as 20 inches. The heavy rains will lead to life-threatening mudslides.
Dean could be the strongest hurricane to strike Jamaica since 1950: stronger than Hurricane Gilbert in 1988 which was a category three when it crossed the island from end to end.