Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) has announced that all its flights scheduled for the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston and the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay will be cancelled today, due to the expected effects of Tropical Storm Sandy.

The tropical storm is expected to develop into a category one hurricane during the course of the day.

Passengers are advised to visit their website: http://www.caribbean-airlines.com, Caribbean Airlines and Air Jamaica Facebook pages, or call the following telephone numbers for flight-specific information:

• Trinidad: 1-868-625-7200
• Jamaica: 1-888-359-2475
• Caribbean toll free: 1-800-744-2225
• Caribbean Airlines North America toll free: 1-800-920-4225.

Digicel tops up on fuel

Telecommunication company Digicel said it has ensured that all cell sites across the island have plenty of fuel and that back-up generators are in good order and ready to go in the event of a failure of the power grid.

The company said it has made available to the market a significant amount of extra credit in order to ensure that customers can stay connected.

Contact customer care at 100.

NWC ready but …

"The National Water Commission (NWC) is reporting a high state of readiness in its disaster preparedness machinery while at the same time cautioning that its systems remain vulnerable and may be affected by the events of Tropical Storm Sandy.

The NWC said several measures aimed at reducing the risk of damage to its systems and to enable the speediest and most effective return to normality have been taken.

Contact: 1-888-225-5692/733-5651-2.

Flow on alert

Telecommunications provider FLOW said that to ensure continuity of service, the company has activated its normal protocols for preparedness to secure infrastructure, back up of its power systems and mobilisation of its core teams. The company said its customer care centre will operate on a 24-hour basis. Customers can contact Flow toll free at 1-888-303-3000.

Extended clinic hours suspended

The North East Regional Health Authority said the extended clinic hours at Ocho Rios and St Ann's Bay health centres have been suspended until further notice.

LIME out in the field

Garry Sinclair, LIME's managing director for Jamaica and Grand Cayman, said its team of technicians and engineers has been out in the field with a view to ensuring service delivery across all its platforms.

Persons may contact LIME's emergency operations centre at 929-9834 or Toll Free 1-888-295-3621.

Family emergency

Assign roles/responsibilities for hurricane preparedness and evacuation to each member of the household long before actual storm.

Establish an evacuation plan and map out exit strategy and route.

Review emergency plans monthly.

Ensure all doors and windows are properly secured to make break-ins difficult.

Alert parish disaster coordinator and police when evacuating premises.

Place furniture on raised platform, e.g. building blocks to prevent flood damage.

If you are not carrying all important documents such as passports and ID cards, lock them in a water-tight container.

JPS prepares for the tropical storm

The Jamaica Public Service (JPS) said it has activated its emergency operations to facilitate quick response in the event of damage to its power delivery infrastructure.

JPS said it has emergency operation centres in all parishes, from which technical teams will be deployed to carry out restoration work.

"An important part of the preparation is our ongoing structural integrity programme, which involves lightning mitigation as well as upgrading equipment and other elements of the power delivery system. We have also ensured that adequate material and other resources are in place to facilitate speedy repair and replacement of equipment that is damaged during a hurricane," said head of communication at JPS, Winsome Callum.

Parish Disaster Coordinators

Kingston and St Andrew:

Terry-Ann Foster: 967-3329/922-0254

Portmore:

Phillipa Ricketts: 740-0789/ 740-7440-2

Clarendon:

C. Williams: 986-2216, 986-2234 or 986-2403

Hanover:

Desmond Dorman: 956-2951/ 956- 2131

Manchester:

LaJean Powell, 962-2278-9, 363-3068 or 775-2630

Portland:

Denise Lewis, 993-2165

St Ann:

Alvin Clarke, 972-2615-6

St Catherine:

Patricia Lewis, 984-3111-2

St Elizabeth:

Shane Taylor, 965-2265/ 965-2267

St James:

Tamoy Sinclair, 971-9088/952-5500-2

St Mary:

Yolande Williams-Jankie, 577-8307/ 994-2178

St Thomas:

Millicent Blake, 982-9449/982-2227

Trelawny:

Dion Hylton- Lewis, 397-2269/954-3970

Westmoreland:

Hilma Tate, 360- 7686/ 955- 2798