Residents Brace for TS Isaac

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Tuesday, 21 August 2012 19:32

By caribarena news

Antigua St. John's -Squally conditions will begin affecting Antigua & Barbuda Tuesday night, as Tropical Storm Isaac approaches the Lesser Antilles packing maximum winds of 40 miles per hour.

Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the center, with the system forecast to strengthen in the next 48 hours.

Earlier, alerts were issued for residents living in low-lying and coastal areas by the National Office of Disaster Services (NODS).

Some 17 shelters were opened across the island, two of them on Barbuda.

“We are appealing to residents living in low-lying areas to (err) on the side of caution. Seek higher grounds with relatives, friends, or within the public shelters that are expected to be open 6 p.m., this afternoon,” NODS Director Philmore Mullin said.

Fisherman have pulled their boats to safety as swells of up to 7 feet were predicted for Wednesday and are forecast to increase by an additional two feet on Thursday.

Dangerous surf and rip currents were also predicted for the Leeward Islands.

An advisory from the Antigua-based regional carrier LIAT warned passengers of possible disruptions.

Regionally, tropical storm warnings have been issued for Martinique, Dominica, Guadeloupe and St. Marteen, St. Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat, Anguilla, Saba and St. Eustatius.

A tropical storm watch is in effect for the British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands, among others.

The system is moving in a westerly direction at 17 mph with expectations that that motion would continue for the next few days.

Forecasters said the centre of Isaac should move through the central Lesser Antilles Wednesday evening and emerge over the Eastern Caribbean Sea by Thursday morning.

Back at home, NODS notified the public of more than 30 flood-prone areas.

These include Bolans, Bath Lodge, Bendals Road, part of Bethesda, part of Piccadilly, Cobb’s Cross, Yorks Village, Swetes (areas close to the water courses), Liberta (areas close to the water courses), St. John’s (New Street to Tanner Street). 

Other areas identified were Grays Farm, Villa and Point Area (Wilkinson’s Cross, St. John’s and Dickenson Bay Streets) , Mc Kinnon’s, Cedar Grove, Cassada Gardens, Old Parham Road, Airport Road, All Saints (especially the Mc Pond area), John Hughes (The Folly’s Ghaut area), Gunthropes, Blackman’s, Paynter’s East and Paynter’s West, Pigotts (the perimeter especially from the Burma Road side), Freetown, Jennings, Blue Heron Hotel Area (Crabbe Hill), Lagoon and Marl Hole Area in Barbuda.



"The MET Office has forecast that the system could dump approximately four to eight inches of rain on the island; therefore, residents are discouraged from venturing into flood waters, to stave off the risks on infectious water-borne diseases and potential drowning," the NODS media release stated.

It also warned motorists against sightseeing in the aftermath of the system, stating this could hamper the emergency respondents.

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