(RAPF Release) – As we await the approach of Hurricane Irma. A rainfall model created by Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) for the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) of potential rainfall as a result of the passage of Hurricane Irma has been developed.
There is the potential for significant flooding in several areas in Anguilla based, on projected rainfall and storm surge as result of the passage of Hurricane Irma. These areas are:
• Sandy Ground
• Cauls Pond
• Long Pond
• Shoal Bay East
• Meads Bay
• The Valley
• Areas of Mount Fortune
• Parts of Island Harbour
• And the south coast of the island to from West End, through Rendezvous Bay, Lockrum, Little Harbour, Forest Bay, Sandy Hill Bay including long Pond, Sea Feathers, The Copse, and Junks Hole.
Residents of these areas are asked to seriously consider evacuating their homes and moving to a Shelter or the home of family or friends, who do not reside in low-lying or flood prone areas.
There are four (4) shelters that will be in operation in Anguilla as of 4:00pm today Tuesday 5th September, 2017. These shelters are the Alwyn Allison Richardson Primary School in West End, The Bethel Methodist Church Hall in South Hill, The Ebenezer Methodist Church Hall in The Valley and The Mount Fortune Seventh Day Adventist Church in Sandy Hill.
These shelters will be manned an Officer from the Anguilla Fire Service, a member of the Department of Disaster Management and a member of the Royal Anguilla Police Force.
Extremely strong winds are projected (120 mph plus) in Hurricane Irma; will cause storm surge with heavy rain (at least 12 inches at around 2 inches per hour) and waves up to 15 meters (50 feet).
Please note this is only a potential model for possible rainfall that may cause flooding, during the passage of Hurricane Irma.
Chrispen Gumbs, Insp.
PMRO
Royal Anguilla Police Force