Storm surges coming warns ODPEM

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is advising the public to expect significant storm surges with the passage of Hurricane Dean.



A storm surge is an abnormal rise in the water level along the coast or shoreline and can be the most dangerous part of a hurricane.



The Met Office predicts that as Hurricane Dean approaches the island we should expect storm surge flooding of one and a half to three metres (or seven to nine feet) above normal tide levels.



All vulnerable communities along the coastline are being asked to evacuate to higher ground and emergency shelters.



Meanwhile a Hurricane Warning remains in effect for Jamaica.



The centre of the category four system is expected to begin passing south of Jamaica near the coast at about 2 p.m.



The rains have started to pelt several communities in the eastern parishes.



In St. Thomas, the Roselle main road is currently inundated with water from storm surge activity.



And in Trelawny 72 residents of the Falmouth Infirmary have been relocated to the Hague Primary School.



However the other 107 emergency shelters remain unoccupied.



Parish manager for ODPEM, Deonne Hylton says the parish has 44 disaster preparedness officials along with 55 contingency centres in the parish.



STAY TUNED TO POWER 106 FM AS THE GLEANER/POWER 106 NEWS CENTRE CONTINUES TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE ISLANDWIDE COVERAGE ON HURRICANE DEAN.