OCHA Situation Report No. 3
Hurricane Isidore - The Caribbean
20 September 2002


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

1. The National Weather Center in Miami reports that Isidore is
strengthening as it heads for Cuba and has become the second hurricane of
the 2002 season.

2. At 15:00 GMT today, the center of Hurricane Isidore was located near
latitude 21.7 north and longitude 83.9 west about 160 km southwest of
Havana, Cuba. Maximum sustained winds are near 165 km/h.

3. A Hurricane Warning remains in effect for the western Cuba provinces of
Matanzas, Havana City, Havana and Pinar del Rio, including the Isle of
Youth.

4. A Tropical Storm Warning and A Hurricane Watch: in effect for Mexico,
from Tulum on the Yucatan peninsula including the Island of Cozumel.

5. Cuba: the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Havana City informs
that Hurricane Isidore continued pounding the western part of Cuba with
hurricane-force winds and rains, with most impact on the Isle of Youth.

6. The Civil Defense reported the evacuation of 100,000 people, including
students in countryside schools and persons living in flood-prone areas.
Most of the evacuated people found accommodation with families and
friends. Cattle have also been evacuated.  School activities have been
suspended in Havana City, the Isle of Youth and Pinar del Rio.

7. Jamaica: the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Kingston informs
that flooding occurred in the communities in Clarendon, Hanover and
Westmoreland according to the Office of Disaster Preparedness and
Emergency management (ODPEM). Two temporary shelters have been opened. The
national authorities have distributed relief items, such as bedding, food,
tarpaulins and plastic sheeting.

8. 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.

9. 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:
  Mr. E. Haegglund / Mr. R Mena / Ms. M. Kondo
  Direct Tel. +41-22-917 32 99 / 14 55 / 19 97

Press contact:
  (GVA)  Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 2653
  (NYC)  Brian Grogan direct Tel. +1-212-963-1143


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