A damaged silo is pictured along Dixie Highway in Boca Raton, Florida, yesterday. Hurricane Frances continues to pound Florida yesterday, weaker but still bearing torrential rains and high winds as it crossed from the Gulf of Mexico.-Reuters photo
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AP):
ISLANDERS SCRAMBLED to put up storm shutters and stock up on supplies as Hurricane Ivan spun closer to the Caribbean with sustained winds of 105 mph (168 kph).
A hurricane warning was issued for Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada; a hurricane watch for Martinique; and a tropical storm warning for Trinidad and Tobago.
Prime Minister Owen Arthur of Barbados convened an emergency session of the Cabinet early yesterday. "Ivan poses a direct and serious threat to Barbados," Arthur said.
Government offices closed early. The first day of the new academic year was scheduled for yesterday, but children were ordered to remain home as
teachers helped to convert school buildings into hurricane shelters.
Ivan weakened yesterday to Category 2 strength. Forecasters said that the hurricane could regain force by the time it reaches land by this morning.
"It's still a strong hurricane," said Eric Blake, a meteorologist at the United States National Hurricane Center in Miami. "Barbados and other islands could see trees blown down, roof damage and it doesn't take much wind to damage crops."
Ivan's outer bands could start affecting Barbados by late Monday, Blake said.
EXPECTED TO HIT BY MORNING
At 5 p.m. (2100 GMT) yesterday, the hurricane's centre was about 305 miles (490 kilometres) east-south-east of Barbados. It was expected to hit the island of 280,000 residents by this morning and was moving toward the west-north-west near 22 mph (35 kph).
Hammers pounded throughout the capital of Bridgetown yesterday as metal hurricane shutters and wooden planks were used to cover windows and doors.
Islanders also rushed to buy supplies like lanterns, kerosene, bottled water, canned food, flashlights and batteries. Long lines formed at gas stations.
Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 50 miles (80 kilometres) from Ivan's centre while tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (225 kilometres).
Ivan became the fourth major hurricane of the season on Sunday afternoon, following Hurricane Frances, which left at least two dead in the Bahamas and carved out a path of destruction that stretched from the Turks and Caicos Islands to the U.S. state of Florida.
Ivan could threaten Florida but it was too early to tell, meteorologists said. It is also forecast to move over St. Lucia, a former British colony of 165,000
residents.
