Hurricane Irene strengthened to a category two storm last night and was forecasted to hit the southeastern Bahamas as early as this afternoon and New Providence tomorrow night. The hurricane could be the first in 11 years to directly hit New Providence. Current forecast information shows the storm center at 20.6 North, 70,6 West and is moving to the west-northwest at 10 mph. Maximum sustained winds are 101 mph.
Director of Meteorology Arthur Rolle predicted that Exuma and New Providence will be among the hardest hit islands as Irene moves through The Bahamas because of their proximity to the eye of the storm. The National Hurricane Center of the United States predicted that the storm could increase in intensity as it moves through the warm waters of The Bahamas, becoming a category three storm. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 100 miles per hour last night.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) was activated 6 p.m. yesterday.
NEMA Commander Captain Stephen Russell said he was in contact with every island administrator in the southeast Bahamas. He said they had been briefed and were finalizing plans to secure government facilities and prepare shelters. Officer in Charge of the Matthew Town, Inagua, Police Station Inspector Dennis Brown said residents were in full preparation mode.
As Brown spoke to The Nassau Guardian, hammering could be heard in the background. He said the noise was the sound of his station being battened up in preparation for the storm.
"Persons have already done their shopping, buying candles and lights," he said.
"The island is on red alert for the hurricane. We went through this before so persons really know what to expect with this kind of hurricane."
Brown said heads of government agencies met yesterday afternoon to discuss preparations. Shelters will be activated at 10 a.m. today, he said.
Chairman of the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) Michael Moss said preparations were being made to ensure that power generation facilties will have enough fuel to run following the hurricane. Moss said BEC executives held an emergency meeting yesterday afternoon to discuss their action plan for the storm.
"From the start of the hurricane season we made necessary basic preparations," Moss said.
The Ministry of Tourism and Aviation was also busy yesterday gathering data from cruise ship companies which will inevitably reroute their vessels away from The Bahamas, Director General David Johnson told The Nassau Guardian.
"Certainly some that are due to come in after Wednesday, they would reroute," he said.
"That's the norm."
Russell said that no flights had been cancelled at Lynden Pindling International Airport. The airport's policy is to shut down operations once winds exceed 40 miles per hour, he said.
The Guardian's website, thenassauguardian.com, will have regular updates on the storm throughout today.
Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian
