Hurricane Sandy is now clearly headed to the Bahamas like Hurricane DAVID!

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Sandy headed to the Bahamas!

Alert #10 on Hurricane Sandy issued by the Bahamas Department of Meteorology on Tuesday, October 24, 2012 at 3 p.m.

Texaco station on Carmichael Road.

Hurricane Sandy is approaching the southeastern coast of Jamaica.

A hurricane watch remains in effect for the Northwest Bahamas, which includes Grand Bahama, Bimini, Abaco, The Berry Islands, Andros, Eleuthera and New Providence.

And a hurricane watch also remains in effect for the Central Bahamas, which includes Exuma, Cat Island, Rum Cay, San Salvador and Long Island.

A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the watch area in 48 hours.

Tropical storm watch remains in effect for the Southeast Bahamas, which includes Acklins, Crooked Island, Long Cay, Ragged Island, Mayaguana and Inagua.

A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are expected within the watch area in 48 hours.

At 2 p.m. the center of Hurricane Sandy was located near latitude 17.6 degrees north and longitude 76.8 degrees west or about 30 miles south of Kingston, Jamaica or about 320 miles south-southwest of Ragged Island.

Hurricane Sandy is moving toward the north near 14 miles per hour. This general motion is expected to continue through Friday, with a slight increase in forward speed later today or tonight. On the forecast track the center of Sandy is expected to move near the Central Bahamas early Thursday morning.

Maximum sustained winds have remains near 80 miles per hour with higher gusts. Sandy is a Category One Hurricane and additional strengthening is possible before sandy moves over Jamaica or eastern Cuba.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 140 miles from the center.

Tropical storm conditions are expected to begin affecting Long Island and Exuma by 6a.m. Thursday morning then spread over New Providence around 1p.m. Thursday before pulling away from the Northwest Bahamas after 9a.m. Saturday.

Storm surge as much as 4 to 7 feet above normal tide levels is likely in the warning areas.

Residents in the warning areas should brace themselves for strong gusty winds and flooding in low-lying areas. All precautions should be taken without delay to secure your windows, outdoor furniture and remove debris, which could become flying missiles in strong winds.

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HURRICANE SANDY

Remarks by the Rt Hon Perry Christie, Prime Minister.

October 24, 2012

The National Emergency Management Agency fully activated its National Emergency Operations Centre as of 12 noon Wednesday, October 24, 2012.

I am advised by Captain Stephen Russell, Director of NEMA that based on advice from the Department of Meteorology, that a Hurricane Watch is now in effect for the Northwest Bahamas – including Grand Bahama, Bimini, Abaco, The Berry Islands and New Providence, and the Central Bahamas including Exuma, Cat Island, Rum Cay, San Salvador and Long Island.

A tropical storm watch remains in effect for the southeast Bahamas Acklins, Crooked Island, Long Cay, ragged Island, Mayaguana and Inagua.

Based on the projected path of the storm, I am advising you, residents, to heed the warnings issued by the Met Department and rely on their expertise for your safety and well-being.

I am further advised that ALL schools – public and private – are to remain closed as of Thursday and Friday.

Government offices, except for emergency personnel will remain closed Thursday and Friday.

Airports, seaports and the bridges will also have to remain close as of 7am Thursday and Friday due to the strength of the wind, which is expected to be in excess of 40mph.

Businesses, including Banks are also being advised to remain closed Thursday and Friday, based on the timeline given by the Met Department that New Providence would be impacted as of 1pm Thursday.

My Government stands ready to assist residents, who may be impacted, in the projected areas. I impress upon you to secure yourselves and your property.

3 COMMENTS

  1. Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie has announced that all Public and Private schools and government offices will be closed Thursday and Friday due to Hurricane Sandy…

  2. BREAKING NEWS <<< Cable Bahamas would like to inform the public that our offices will be closed to the public until regular office hours on Saturday morning, October 27th. CB wrote: Our emergency support staff will be manning the phones for all enquires including television, Internet and phone services. Our network operations team will also be in place for continuous monitoring of the network throughout the storm.

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