Bridgetown, Barbados August 16, 2007 (CDERA) - Hurricane warnings are in effect for Dominica and Saint Lucia and tropical storm warnings for Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts/Nevis and St. Vincent and the Grenadines as Hurricane Dean, a Category 1 Hurricane, approaches the Lesser Antilles. At 11.00 am EDT the center of Hurricane Dean, a Category 1 hurricane was located near latitude 13.7 north and longitude 54.3 west or about 350 miles (730 km) east of Barbados. Hurricane Dean is moving toward the west near 23mph (37km/hr) and this motion is expected to continue today. This motion should bring the centre of Dean near the Lesser Antilles early Friday. Maximum sustained winds are near 90 mph (150km/hr) with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours. An Air Force Reserve hurricane hunter aircraft will investigate Dean this afternoon. National Response to threat: Dominica, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines held pre-impact meetings yesterday and similar meetings are being held today in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada and, Saint Lucia, The National Emergency Operations Centres are partially activated in Dominica and Saint Vincent. Regional Response: In response to the threat posed by Hurricane Dean, the CDERA Coordinating Unit has continued to maintain contact with the National disaster Offices. The CDERA Coordinating Unit is urging States to ensure that all national preparedness and readiness actions are rushed to completion. The CDERA Coordinating Unit has activated its contingency plan The Regional Response Mechanism remains on STANDBY. Standby means that all elements of the RRM should take the necessary preparatory actions in accordance with their respective plans to ensure that a speedy and efficient response may be mounted if a full activation is declared. The Eastern Caribbean Donor Group (ECDG) Pre-strike meeting commenced at 10:30 a.m today Thursday 16 August, 2007 at the UN House in Barbados. The Coordinating Unit will continue to monitor the situation with Hurricane Dean as it approaches the Caribbean and provide advisories as necessary. Hurricane Warning?Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion. Tropical Storm Warning?A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the warning area within the next 24 hours. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion. Contact: The CDERA CU 24hr contact number at 246 425 0386