Get ready urgently for hurricane, SE Bahamas warned

By JADE RUSSELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

jrussell@tribunemedia.net

RESIDENTS of the southeast islands of The Bahamas are being urged to quickly prepare for Hurricane Oscar, as the Category 1 hurricane is expected to make landfall in Inagua early tomorrow morning.

A hurricane warning is in effect for Mayaguana, Crooked Island, Acklins, Long Cay, Ragged Island, Inagua, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. The storm is forecast to bring heavy rainfall, with up to six inches in some areas, along with dangerous winds exceeding 90 miles per hour, flooding, and thunderstorms.

During a press conference at the Disaster Risk Management (DRM) headquarters on Saturday night, Acting Prime Minister Chester Cooper urged residents to finalise their preparations for safety. He acknowledged the unpredictability of this hurricane season but warned residents not to underestimate the storm’s severity. Mr Cooper advised residents to gather essential supplies such as food, water, and medication, and to contact local officials for assistance with preparations.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force, Royal Bahamas Defence Force, and Ministry of Works and Family Island Affairs are on standby and ready to be deployed if necessary.

Jeffrey Simmons, acting director of the Bahamas Department of Meteorology, said Tropical Storm Oscar quickly intensified into a hurricane this morning. Mr Simmons noted that Hurricane Oscar will move towards Inagua tonight, with the northern part of the island, including Matthew Town, experiencing tropical storm-force and hurricane-force winds by tomorrow morning.

"Right now, Inagua is in the line of sight to really be the first island in The Bahamas to feel the impact of this system,” Mr Simmons said.  

DRM managing director Aarone Sargent added that officials have been in contact with Inagua’s island administrator, Herman Gilbert, advising him to activate the incident command centre at the district council office. The shelter at Saint Philip’s Church has also been opened, though there are no occupants at present.

Shelters on Mayaguana, Acklins, and Crooked Island are being prepared. Incident command centres on these islands have been activated as the storm approaches.

Mr Sargent noted that his team is on the ground in Inagua, speaking directly with residents to address any concerns. He added that the island administrator can contact DRM to ensure residents receive any necessary supplies.

When asked about potential evacuations, especially in Inagua, Mr Cooper said there were no current plans for evacuations since Hurricane Oscar remains a Category 1 storm.

"But there's always the advisory that people in low lying areas ought to be very alert and if they are uncomfortable, to move to higher ground or to move to respective shelters,” Mr Cooper said. 

Leon Lundy, the minister responsible for the Disaster Risk Management Authority, emphasised the importance of taking the storm seriously. He noted that just yesterday, Oscar had only a 20 percent chance of forming, but it intensified in less than 24 hours.

Comments

ThisIsOurs says...

**Why is this:**

"*The storm is forecast to bring heavy rainfall, with up to six inches in some areas, along with dangerous winds exceeding 90 miles per hour, flooding, and thunderstorms.*"

**So different from what the head meteorologist actually said?**

"*Mr Simmons says that the area where this system developed there was a lot of warm water and very little wind shear, he says now it is moving into "a hostile environment" and that is why it will slow down and begin to weaken. He says he does not expect it to become stronger."*

At last reporting hurricane force winds only extend **5**miles from the center. The island it will come closest to (at hurricane strength) is Inagua which is 55x19miles. If it's not a direct hit and stays miles off Inagua, the winds experienced there will be even lower, it's not clear how close it will pass by Inagua. These are the details needed.

After Inagua its forecasted to hit Cuba by Sunday evening and from there drop to a tropical storm

Posted 20 October 2024, 2:45 a.m. Suggest removal

ExposedU2C says...

Corrupt Chester the Jester is simply doing what he does best, i.e. making a complete and utter fool of himself. This incompetent PLP government has done very little since Dorian to improve the preparedness of country for tropical storms and hurricanes of any size...even the smallest like Oscar.

Posted 20 October 2024, 7:19 a.m. Suggest removal

ThisIsOurs says...

God (my faith, for others its just dumb luck) saved us again... my goodness if it wasnt for him what would we do? It's amazing they havent dug the fill from under our feet ... and theirs... and sold it to Dubai for their fake islands

Posted 20 October 2024, 12:19 p.m. Suggest removal

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