The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is closely monitoring the movement of Tropical Storm Emily, as a tropical storm alert has been issued for the island of Inagua.

Officials at NEMA have put members of its Emergency Function Support group on notice, to report to the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) in the event the storm strengthens and poses a direct threat to parts of the Southeast Bahamas.

NEMA has said it will continue to monitor the storm and keep the public inform of its development and movement.At 11 a.m. the center of Emily was located near latitude 15.3 degrees north and longitude 63.6 degrees west, or about 745 miles southeast of Great Inagua.Emily has been meandering for the past several hours, officials said, but is expected to resume a west to west-northwest motion later today.Maximum sustained winds are near 40 miles per hour with higher gusts. Slight strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours.

Forecasters are advising Inagua residents to closely monitor the progress of Emily and be ready to begin preparation.Small craft operators in the Southeast Bahamas are also being advised to monitor the progress of Emily and be prepared to seek safe harbor when asked to do so.Tropical Storm Emily, which formed Monday evening, is the fifth named storm of the 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

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