Ross Sheil, Staff Reporter

Tropical Storm Ernesto, the fifth tropical storm of the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season, is projected to pass directly over Jamaica late Sunday morning.

With Ernesto developing from a tropical depression yesterday afternoon, Ronald Jackson, acting director general of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), warned the public to put in place family and business disaster plans though Ernesto is not projected to develop into a hurricane.

Fishermen to evacuate

In the 5:00 p.m. Meteorological Service Tropical Storm Watch yesterday, fishermen on the cays and banks, particularly those on the Morant and Pedro Cays, were advised to immediately evacuate to the mainland, no later than 6:00 a.m. Saturday morning. Other small craft operators are advised to return or stay in port, pending further updates from the service.

"It will, even at tropical storm levels, depending on the type of precipitation and wind, causing some serious concerns," Mr. Jackson told The Gleaner.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller convened a meeting of the National Response Team (NRT) at her Devon Road, St. Andrew, office.

"I am urging everyone to listen to the (storm) bulletins and take them seriously," Mrs. Simpson Miller said. "I know that some of you do not take warnings seriously, as you feel, we will escape. My advice, particularly to those living in flood-prone areas, is to follow the instructions of ODPEM and the other authorities."

The United States National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported at 4 p.m. yesterday that Ernesto was located 1,000 kilometres (625 miles) east-south-east of Kingston, moving towards the island at a speed of 26 kilometres per hour (16 mph). Maximum sustained winds near 65 km/h (40 mph) were extending up to 150 km (90 miles) from the centre. Three to six inches of rain are expected to fall on Jamaica.

ODPEM mobilised

Mr. Jackson said ODPEM would be mobilising all staff on Saturday night or Sunday morning, depending on how the weather system develops. He added that all parish disaster teams have also been instructed to begin preparations.

The acting ODPEM head said the disaster office had begun the process of allocating resources, on a needs basis, to hurricane shelters on the north and south coasts.

During last season, Jamaica was struck by hurricanes Dennis and Emily, Categories Two and Four respectively. Both struck in July and totalled $5.98 billion in damage. The Category Four Hurricane Ivan, in September 2004, caused $36.9 billion in damage.