OCHA Situation Report No. 5
Hurricane Michelle - Cuba
4 November 2001


This message is not an official hurricane warning or alert for any
country.

1.  Hurricane Michelle, a category four storm, is now approaching Cuba.
The National Weather Center in Miami reports that at 1500 GMT, 4 November
2001, the eye of Hurricane Michelle was located near latitude 21.3 north,
longitude 82.1 west or about 140 miles (230 km) south of La Habana and
about 30 miles (50 km) east-southeast of the Isla de la Juventud. Maximum
sustained winds are near 135 mph (215 km/hr) with higher gusts.

2.  A Hurricane Warning is in effect for western Cuba for the provinces
from Pinar del Rio eastward to Ciego de Avila, including the Isla de la
Juventud.

3.  A Hurricane Warning is also in effect for all of the Florida Keys from
Ocean Reef westward to the Dry Tortugas, including Florida Bay.

4.  A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the northwestern and central
Bahamas. This includes Grand Bahama, the Abacos, the Berry Islands,
Bimini, Andros, New Providence, Eleuthera, Cat Island, Exumas, San
Salvador, Rum Cay and Long Island.

5.  A Tropical Storm Warning is also in effect for the east coast of
Florida from Jupiter Inlet southward to Ocean Reef and along the west
coast of Florida south of Bonita beach and the Cayman Islands.


Cuba

6.  According to the United Nations Resident Coordinator's office in Cuba,
the Civil Defense has so far evacuated 420,870 people and 373,000 animals
have also been moved to safety.

7.  In the province of Pinar del Rio alone, 66,000 people have been
evacuated and measures have been taken to safeguard cattle and crops. The
province is Cuba's main tobacco-producing region. 8.  The national
airline, Cubana de Aviacion, canceled all national and international
flights. All transportation means to the Isla de la Juventud have been
suspended.

9.  The Government has been dedicating a state television station to
24-hour hurricane information.

10.  OCHA is in close contact with the United Nations Resident Coordinator
in Cuba, who is monitoring the situation with the Government. OCHA has
alerted members of the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination
(UNDAC) team.

11.  For further information, please refer to the website of the National
Hurricane Service in Miami at www.nhc.noaa.gov, and
www.solar.ifa.hawaii.edu/Tropical/Gif/atl.latest.gif.

12.  This situation report, together with further information on ongoing
emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at
http://www.reliefweb.int


Telephone: +41-22-91712 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers (OCHA Response Coordination Branch):
  Mr. E. Haegglund / Ms. M. Kondo
  Direct Tel. +41-22-917 32 99/1997

Press contact:
  (GVA)  Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 56
  (NYC)  Ms. Phyllis Lee, direct Tel. +1-212-963 48 32


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