Reports frm Friends in the Islands affected by Earl&Fiona

[Patti]

It is from the NW side of the island. The wind really seems to have dropped recently.

[artist]

It is from the NW side of the island. The wind really seems to have dropped recently.

thank you. I am glad to hear it may finally be backing off for you there,

[Patti]

well now that i said that - we had some huge gusts! though they dont seem to be as often now. Dont get me wrong it is still very windy here and of course it is raining consistently.

[artist]

well now that i said that - we had some huge gusts! though they dont seem to be as often now. Dont get me wrong it is still very windy here and of course it is raining consistently.

Of course! lol
yeah, I was looking at satellite and it looks like you guys may have this continue for some time yet. Hopefully sooner than later it will finally clear out of there.

[redneck51]

Power went down here around 10:30 AM local time. Now that's also happening when the old geezer next door f*rts so.. I'm on generator power now. Internet (DSL) is still working; water was shut down around midday. They shut down the water every so often, especially when it rains a lot. The excuse is that there's too much sand in the water than and that damages the pumps. Maybe I should tell them about filters?

Lots and lots of rain and the wind is really picking up now from the west - northwest.

From what I just saw on the PR radar, the eye moved up quite a bit since this AM - good news for PR!

[msbee]

I think the worst is over for us but we are sitll getting rain and wind. worried about PR, VI, BVI now
any reports from there?

[BatzVI]

We're still having heavy winds out of the west...just to peek outside and my sliders were rattling...not very much rain

[cycloneye]

I am alive,safe and dry!!. Power was cut since around 10:15 AM until recently.But I can expect more power cuts tonight as the eye moves at its closest point from San Juan and tropical Storm force winds blow by then. After that big band this morning, less strong ones have moved thru but radar shows plenty of rain that will move in the next few hours. So I will be here as conditions permit to report.

[breeze]

Welcome back, Luis! It's good to see that you are safe!

[artist]

glad things are better for you msbee and good to see you back Luis!

[Gustywind]

I am alive,safe and dry!!. Power was cut since around 10:15 AM until recently.But I can expect more power cuts tonight as the eye moves at its closest point from San Juan and tropical Storm force winds blow by then. After that big band this morning, less strong ones have moved thru but radar shows plenty of rain that will move in the next few hours. So I will be here as conditions permit to report.

Glad to see that you're OK Luis. Be safe and dry.
Your friend from Guadeloupe.
Gustywind

[msbee]

I am alive,safe and dry!!. Power was cut since around 10:15 AM until recently.But I can expect more power cuts tonight as the eye moves at its closest point from San Juan and tropical Storm force winds blow by then. After that big band this morning, less strong ones have moved thru but radar shows plenty of rain that will move in the next few hours. So I will be here as conditions permit to report.

glad you are ok Luis

[msbee]

News Release



Written by Roddy Heyliger, Government Information Service (GIS), Ennia Bldg., Longwall Rd., Philipsburg, Sint Maarten D.W.I. Tel. 00-599-543-1162, 542-4119, Fax: 543-1169; Email: gis at sintmaarten.net;



For Immediate Release: Monday, August 30, 2010/EOC Advisory #3-7.00pm



EOC: Curfew continues until Tuesday 12.00pm;



GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (GIS) – Operational leaders of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) 10 Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) met at the Fire Department in Cay Hill this afternoon to assess the situation on the island with respect to the passing of Hurricane Earl.



The following decisions were taken at the meeting:



Curfew: The curfew remains in effect for tonight and tomorrow morning and will be lifted at 12.00pm on Tuesday, August 31. The curfew will be strictly enforced. Business personnel with valid hurricane passes are allowed to visit their establishment to assess their situation and commence clean-up only on Tuesday morning.



Schools: Schools are to remain closed on Tuesday, August 31 until further notice. Additional information will be provided on Tuesday after schools are assessed on Tuesday.



Businesses: Businesses are allowed to re-open as of 12.00pm on Tuesday, August 31.



Government Offices: Government offices will be open to the public from 12.00pm. All civil servants are expected to report to work.



Electricity: GEBE is confronted with the situation of rough seas at the Cay Bay Power Plant. A number of generators are operational which are radiator cooled. Generators that require sea water for cooling are not online. Load shedding will be necessary and you are hereby advised to use as less electricity as possible in order to limit load shedding.



Clean-up & Debris Removal: The Public Works Department has teams out clearing the main roads. These activities will continue on Tuesday morning. The curfew remains in effect in order to facilitate this very important process of the post-clean-up of the island.



Airport/Harbour and Hotel Infrastructure: Assessments are still being carried out with respect to the aforementioned facilities.



Remain Vigilant: The public is hereby asked to remain vigilant with respect to another system in the Atlantic Ocean.



Acting Lt. Governor Reynold Groeneveldt: “I would like to thank the general public for heeding the call to prepare for the passing of Hurricane Earl and for the cooperation with respecting the curfew and following other public safety rules and regulations therefore resulting in no loss of life.”



The Governor General, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Justice expressed their support and concern for the people of Sint Maarten and were pleased to hear that there was no loss of life. May God continue to Bless our island nation,” Groeneveldt told the Government Information Service (GIS).


The EOC will meet again on Tuesday morning at 10.00am to assess the clean-up of the island.


The EOC meeting was chaired by Acting Lt. Governor Reynold Groeneveldt. Also present was second Acting Lt. Governor Nilda Arduin-Lynch.

Roddy Heyliger

Sint Maarten Government Information Service (GIS)

[Stephanie]

WHEW!! Glad to see all of you checking in.

It was bad enough for all of you, but too darn close for comfort, especially now as a Cat 4.

[angelwing]

Happy to see folk checking in!! Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers!!!

[caribepr]

Glad to read that nothing truly terrible seems to have happened in the islands. Knocking on wood and giving thanks

[andrewsurvivor]

Great to hear from you guys. Hope everyone is safe and holding up. It definitely bites not having power and loss of infrastructure. Know that we are working on relief supplies for those in need. All of us living in the tropics and subtropics are one family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.

[quaqualita]

mostly a lurker here. We live on the north coast of the Dominican Republic. The 'how close can it get' tool at stormcarib.com keeps Earl in a fairly safe 180mi distance from us (closest point tomorrow around 5pm), we are not in the NHC forecast cone, we are no under TS warning or watch, no advisories mention the Dominican Republic, nobody here is expecting more than a rainy day tomorrow and maybe some light TS winds. But this 'west wobble' Earl is doing in the last 3 hrs or so starts to make us a bit worried here!
Check out http://www.drsol.info/weatherlab/drsol- ... -radar.php (best go to the 4km view).

Any ideas when it will start going more to the north again? at the moment this doesn't look any near like a 300 movement to me, I hope I'm wrong?

[BatzVI]

Rainy outside this morning, but we're okay...power still out, but overall, we were lucky...

[quaqualita]

Looks like we have been lucky, Earl did gain some latitude over night after his for us some scary westward wobbles. Rainy here with some wind gusts, but nothing too bad yet. If Earl stays nicely on track it hopefully wont' get much worst for us here. Webcam from Cabarete, North Coast of Dominican Republic: http://www.cabaretewebcam.com/ .