Antigua : Hurricane shelters were opened across the island yesterday and authorities warned residents to prepare for the worst as Tropical Storm Isaac neared the Lesser Antilles.
This development came despite the latest forecast track, up to press time, suggesting that Antigua & Barbuda would be spared the brunt of Isaac.
Director of the National Office of Disaster Services (NODS) Philmore Mullin warned the volatility of Isaac meant residents needed to remain on maximum guard.
“What we don’t want is a situation where we have a heavy downpour and floodwaters start to rise quickly and people are not able to get to a safe environment,” said Mullin.
“I wouldn’t want a situation with persons out in the dark trying to assist each other so we decided if we are going to err it is going to be on the side of caution,” he added.
Isaac, as of 5 pm on Tuesday, had maximum sustained winds of 40 miles per hour, extending up to 45 miles north east of the centre, which was expected on its forecast track to pass 70 miles south of Antigua sometime this evening.
Antigua & Barbuda Meteorological Office and NODS were both keen to stress however that the forecast could change quickly and people should closely monitor developments throughout the day.
In any case, the bulk of the bad weather conditions were expected to begin affecting the island by midday today with the worst conditions expected between sunset tonight and sunrise tomorrow.
According to a release from NODS, 17 shelters were to be opened Tuesday afternoon, one in each constituency, but a list of open shelters had not yet been made available.
Mullin also warned that people may yet have to evacuate flood prone areas.
“We are appealing to residents living in low lying areas to ire on the side of caution. Seek higher grounds with relatives, friends, or within the public shelters” said Mullin.
These include; Bolans, Bath Lodge, Bendals Road, Bethesda, Piccadilly, Cobbs Cross, Yorks Village, Sweetes, Liberta, St. John’s, Grays Farm, Villa, Point, Mc Kinnons, Cedar Grove, Cassada Gardens, Old Parham Road, Airport Road, All Saints, John Hughes, Gunthorpes, Blackmans, Paynters, Pigotts, Freetown, Jennings, Crabb Hill, Lagoon and Marl Hole Area in Barbuda.
NODS are expected to give specific instructions today should evacuation of certain areas become necessary.
At press time a tropical storm warning was also in effect for Martinique, Dominica, Guadeloupe, St Martin, St Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat, Anguilla, Saba, St Eustatius, St Maarten and Antigua & Barbuda.
NODS warned people to avoid damaged power lines at all costs. They also advise against sightseeing in the aftermath of the storm, as this could disrupt emergency respondents.
People are also being told to stay away from floodwaters, to avoid infectious water-borne diseases and potential drowning.
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