TROPICAL Storm Lili was bearing down on Jamaica last night, and the authorities warned people to brace for high winds and rain, and possibly flooding, from the increasingly angry weather system.

But it appeared last night that Jamaica, because of a slight shift of direction by Lili, would be spared a full frontal bang that seemed inevitable earlier in the day.

The Meteorological Office warned that the storm, which by early evening was 125 miles southeast of Kingston, was travelling on a path that would take its centre over the eastern tip of Jamaica last night. The storm was already packing winds of 47 miles an hour and forecasters expected them to reach up to 73 miles an hour.

"During Saturday morning, (Lili) should then continue moving northwestward, but this time away from the island," the Met office said.

Workmen yesterday put up storm shutters at the Courts store on Constant Spring Road in Kingston, as they take precaution against any possible damage from Tropical Storm Lili, which was expected to start affecting Jamaica by last night. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

Nonetheless, with showers and thunderstorms associated with Lili extending for over 300 miles, and tropical storm force winds extending outward for just over 100 miles, Jamaica would still feel some of the impact of the storm -- particularly in the southern and eastern parishes. The winds were expected to grow stronger after midnight.

The government, in preparation for the storm, ordered the activation of the National Emergency Command Centre at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) to coordinate the response by critical agencies such as the National Works Agency, the Fire Brigade, ministries of health, water, labour and social security, the light and power company, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF).

Shoppers at SuperPlus Pavilion store in Kingston stock up on relief supplies yesterday. Several supermarkets across the island did good business yesterday as Jamaica left work early and made preparation for Tropical Storm Lili. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

"All parishes have been instructed to activate their emergency operations," Prime Minister P J Patterson said in a statement. "Designated shelters are being prepared in the event that they will be required. These shelters are largely schools, community centres and churches."

By late afternoon the streets of Kingston and other major urban centres were clogged with traffic as businesses let workers off early on news of the strengthening storm that seemed headed flush for Jamaica.

Shoppers crowded supermarkets and other shops to stock up on batteries, candles, tinned foods and other essentials and homes were being battened down.

At the SuperPlus supermarket in the Pavilion shopping mall in Half-Way-Tree, Kingston, the manager said that the normally large end of month customer flow had doubled. Two suppliers of batteries had delivered additional stocks to meet demand.

"I shopped yesterday, so normally I would not be here now," one woman, told the Observer. "But I take the storm seriously. I bought candles and lots of canned food, flour and rice."

On the other hand, a man who gave his name only as Devon said that his shopping was normal and had nothing to do with the storm warnings.

"For the last three weeks I have been hearing about storm," he said.

Lili follows hard on Isidore which passed in the vicinity of Jamaica, dumping heavy rains on the island, causing severe flooding in some areas.

With the ground saturated from those rains, there were concerns yesterday that Lili's showers would exacerbate an already difficult situation.

The ODPEM warned people who live in areas that have been previously flooded that it could happen again.

"Therefore, be on the alert for sudden flooding and move either to a shelter or stay with relatives and friends," the disaster management agency advised. "This must be done before the evacuation routes are cut off."

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