A satellite image, showing the position of Tropical Storm Dennis at 5:00 yesterday afternoon. (Courtesy of the National Hurricane Centre)

JAMAICA, still to fully recover from last September's battering by Hurricane Ivan, was last night placed under a hurricane watch as the island prepared for heavy rains and winds from Tropical Storm Dennis.

Dennis was, at 7:00 yesterday evening, 900 kilometres to the east southeast of Morant Point in St Thomas, but the National Meteorological Service said the island could start experiencing deteriorating weather conditions as early as this morning.

"Based on the degree of the errors in projections, it is likely that the eye of the system could come close to the island, so persons should take all the necessary precautions," Lawrence Brown, a senior forecaster at the Met Service told the Observer last night.

Yesterday, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), said the National Response Team was on full alert and advised Jamaicans to make the necessary preparations. Persons who live in flood-prone areas were advised to be prepared to evacuate.

"Right now, families should have supplies in place and if you are in an area that is not secured, be ready to evacuate," Dr Barbara Carby, director-general of the ODPEM, said in a television interview last night.

Fishermen on cays and banks, especially those on the Morant and Pedro Cays, were advised to evacuate immediately and return to the mainland by 10:00 this morning. Other small craft operators in coastal waters were also advised to return to port, and those in port were asked not to venture out.

According to the Met Service, Dennis, which was moving towards the west-north-west near 26 kilometres per hour, had maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometres per hour with higher gusts. It said the storm was expected to strengthen and could become a hurricane by tomorrow.

"The area of showers and thunderstorms associated with Tropical Storm Dennis extends over 500 kilometres from the centre. On its current projected track, the centre is forecast to pass south of Hispaniola tonight (last night) and tomorrow (today), and then just off the northeastern coast of Jamaica by Thursday morning," the Met Service said last night.

"Should this occur, it is likely that the island could begin to experience deteriorating weather conditions as early as tomorrow (this) morning," said the Met Service.
In the meantime, the ODPEM issued the following safety guidelines:

. ensure that galvanised sheeting on roofs, outbuildings and fences are securely fastened. Ensure that there are enough boards, nails, rope, etc on hand to batten down property;

. persons living in low-lying, coastal or flood-prone areas be ready to evacuate. Decide on likely evacuation routes now. Plan to stay with family or friends in safer areas or in a public shelter;

. put together an emergency supplies kit with enough items to last a few days. Make sure to include tinned food, water, a battery-powered radio, a flashlight, extra batteries, and a first aid kit and family medication;

. turn off all electric circuits at the fuse panel or disconnect switch. If this is not possible, turn off or disconnect all electrical appliances before evacuating;

. trim trees and secure loose objects which could become missiles; and

. all businesses should activate their disaster plans.

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