Barbados is bracing itself for the first hurricane in nearly 50 years with the impending arrival of Hurricane Ivan over the next 24 to 36 hours. But Barbados is not the only island that is taking emergency precautions, as St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia and Grenada have also issued hurricane warnings. Martinique was put on hurricane watch, while a tropical storm warning was issued for Trinidad and Tobago. Hurricane Ivan is moving at 125mph (200km/h) towards Barbados, US meteorological officials said. In Barbados, Prime Minister Owen Arthur held an emergency cabinet meeting while disaster preparedness officials were meeting on Monday amid forecasts that the storm would sweep in from the Atlantic Ocean. By 1500 GMT on Monday Hurricane Ivan was 435 miles (700km) east-southeast of Barbados, the US National Hurricane Center said. It was racing towards the islands at almost 23 mph (35 km/h). Forecasters expected that the storm, the ninth tropical cyclone and fourth hurricane of the current storm season, would make landfall late on Tuesday. Emergency services director Judy Thomas made a televised plea to residents not to be complacent about the storm. She urged Barbadians to store water, emergency power supplies, dry foods and key medicines. Thomas told BBC Caribbean Radio that Barbadians have been advised get home early to take care of their homes. "We are asking them to look at the whole question of survivability in terms of the impact form the sea, from wind, rain and the possibility of flooding," she said. Protecting property "Each person must look at their own vulnerability and decide what is in their best interest to secure themselves and their property." Thomas said that the emergency services have been preparing for this hurricane since late last week. She said the government and other key agencies have been moving in a systematic manner. Hurricane Ivan is likely to be the first hurricane to hit Barbados since Hurricane Janet in 1955, but she hopes recent events in the region served to illustrate how serious a hurricane of this strength can be. "We have had a generation or two who have never had this kind of experience," she said. "Hopefully they have learnt from the images that came out of the States with Frances a few days ago. We hope those pictures are etched in their mind." Meanwhile the St Lucian Police Commissioner has cancelled leave for all officers and has warned that looting will not be tolerated in the wake of the hurricane's passage. Officials have said that the island’s southern tip should the area hardest hit.