The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas is bracing for the impact of Hurricane Joaquin, which strengthened into a category three hurricane in the Atlantic last night and is predicted to drop 10 to 15 inches of rain over San Salvador and Rum Cay today, with up to five inches expected over the rest of the central Bahamas.

According to Senior Meteorological Officer Geoffrey Greene, hurricane force winds and localised flooding are not the only concerns. Mr Greene said dangerous storm surges, with water levels as high as four feet above the normal tide, is also possible.

Last night, parts of Exuma, Long Island and Cat Island were said to be experiencing severe flooding and the main road in San Salvador was reportedly blocked, as storm surges have destroyed a portion of the street.

In Mayaguana, officials urged two senior citizens to evacuate yesterday because their homes were in low-lying areas.

The Ministry of Education announced the early closure of all public schools in Exuma, San Salvador, Cat Island and Rum Cay at noon yesterday due to expected flooding due to Joaquin.

The Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBPF) yesterday suspended leave for all officers away from duty.

“All vacation leave for members of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force has been cancelled. All officers and marines are to report to their respective place of duty effective immediately,” a statement said.

A hurricane warning was in effect for the central Bahamas, including San Salvador, Rum Cay, Cat Island, Long Island and Exuma and its cays. Residents in those areas are urged to make immediate preparations for the impact of Joaquin, which is expected to be felt as early as this afternoon.

A hurricane watch was also in effect for the northwest Bahamas, which includes the islands of Eleuthera, the Abacos, New Providence, Andros, the Berry Islands, Bimini and Grand Bahama. Residents in those areas should begin to make preparations for the possible impact of Joaquin within 36 hours.

A tropical storm warning was also put out yesterday for the southeast Bahamas which includes Acklins, Crooked Island, Long Cay, Inagua, Mayaguana and Ragged Island.

A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area.

Last night Joaquin had reported maximum sustained winds of 105mph which extended 35 miles from the centre, about 95 miles east the central Bahamas and moving toward the southwest at 7mph.

According to the Bahamas Meteorological Office, moderate to severe flooding can be expected as Joaquin is forecast to produce five to 10 inches of rain with isolated amounts of 15 inches possible over San Salvador and Rum Cay through Friday morning. Rainfall of three to five inches is possible over the remainder of the central Bahamas through Friday morning, with two to four inches expected over the northeast and southeast Bahamas.

Mr Greene said while New Providence is not expected to be hit directly, tropical storm winds as well as localised flooding is expected in the capital.

“Our main concern is San Salvador and the central Bahamas,” he told The Tribune. “The hurricane will pass the closest to San Salvador, within 43 miles and within 60 miles of Cat Island. Hopefully it makes a turn on Thursday that will take it further away from the Bahamas.

“If it turns it will move north and keep it away from New Providence, most of Eleuthera and Abaco. Those islands will not get a direct hit but will experience tropical storm force winds around 20 knots on Thursday, going up to 30 knots by Friday. New Providence will begin to feel the effects on Thursday and the winds will pick up Thursday afternoon. The downpour will not be continuous, meaning the rains will be on and off in 30-minute intervals.

“This will last until Sunday, when the wind and rain is expected to drop off. San Salvador will begin to see improvements by Saturday but the rain will pick up again on Sunday because of a trough that is trailing the storm. Joaquin is expected to strengthen into a category two hurricane but not until it is almost out of the Bahamas.”

On Eleuthera, people removed stray coconuts and other debris from their yards and put up storm shutters in blustery winds, said Chris Gosling, who runs a volunteer ambulance service on the island. Islanders have learned from past storms not to take chances.

“People don’t panic too much. There’s nothing you can do about it. If it comes, it comes, and you do what you can,” said Mr Gosling, who has lived on Eleuthera for 27 years. “If the forecast is right we will get some wind and rain and it will go back out to sea.”

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) partially activated the National Emergency Operations Centre as of 9am yesterday.

Director of NEMA, Captain Stephen Russell, said that the Operations Centre will remain activated until the system moves away from the Bahamas and could be fully activated upon advice from the Department of Meteorology on the status and location of the hurricane.

Forecasters expect Joaquin to turn north after leaving the Bahamas, but they have little confidence in predicting its path after that. Many US computer forecast models predict a hit on the East Coast of the US next week, anywhere from North Carolina to New York’s Long Island.

The US National Hurricane Centre said Joaquin could become a category three hurricane, with winds of 115mph, in the Atlantic Ocean by Saturday after leaving the Bahamas.

The Department of Education said it will keep the public informed and “will provide updates as decisions are made and information is made available. We encourage all parents and teachers to listen to newscasts and to also refer to the Ministry of Education’s Facebook page for additional updates,” a statement said.