The Event: Hurricane Ivan a Category 3 system with sustained winds of 115mph impacted Grenada on Tuesday September 7, 2004 leaving a trail of damage. All utilities were knocked out but limited communication has been restored with the Emergency Operation Centre. Hurricane Ivan has cleared the island and is now headed northward into the Caribbean Sea. The Prognosis: All clear issued for Grenada. Weather conditions reported to be returning to normal. A 30 knot wind reported and the sea is fine with easterly swells. THE SITUATION Grenada Communication has been re-established with the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) through Grenada amateur radio operators. The British naval vessel HMS Richmond arrived in St George’s Habour at daybreak, has conducted initial reconnaissance of the island and sent crew ashore to provide support. The reconnaissance confirms widespread damage. The crew is in contact with the EOC and will facilitate a public broadcast to the nation by Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell if required. They are also providing limited Air Traffic Control (ATC) support. The ship’s medical personnel is ascertaining the needs at the Grenada General Hospital in St Georges ahead of the arrival of a representative of the Pan American Health Organisation. This representative will be a part of a CDERA advance team scheduled to arrive early afternoon. Minor damage is reported to the hospital which has no power. The access road to the hospital has been cleared. The habour is open though a 300-foot vessel is lodged there. The airport runway has been cleared but the control tower is not yet functional. ATC support is by the HMS Richmond. Police Headquarters have been badly damaged. CDERA has been receiving numerous calls from around the world on the health and welfare of residents and visitors to Grenada. ACTIONS BY COORDINATING UNIT: 1. Deputy Coordinator of CDERA Audrey Mullings is leading an initial assessment team to Grenada at 1:30PM today September 8, 2004. The team comprises a representative of the USAID’s Office for Foreign Disaster Assistance, Pan American Health Organisation, an engineer, and the Caribbean Media Corporation. 2. The Eastern Caribbean Donor Group meet at 9 am Wednesday at CDERA headquarters to receive a preliminary damage assessment which will inform the Group’s emergency response; 3. The Caribbean Disaster Response Unit is being mobilized for deployment to Grenada as early as tomorrow – weather conditions permitting. 4. Trinidad and Tobago, the CDERA sub-regional focal point for Grenada is mobilizing a vessel to deploy relief supplies tomorrow. 5. CARILEC has assembled restoration crews which will be deployed to Grenada. 6. HMS Richmond, the British Naval patrol vessel is available to support immediate response in Grenada. 7. CARICOM Secretariat has been apprised of the situation in the CDERA Participating States. 8. The Emergency Assistance Funds operated by CDERA, CDB, FirstCaribbean International Bank are being activated. 9. CDERA is coordinating with the International Federation of the Red Cross information on the health and welfare of residents and visitors to Grenada. This information is to be posted on at www.cdera.org The CDERA CU continues to issue SITREPs on Hurricane Ivan which may be viewed at www.cdera.org. The UN/OCHA Reliefweb service is also posting SITREPS at www.reliefweb.int Source: Consulate General of Grenada