Government declares full shutdown of SVG from 6 pm Thursday

St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) will be under a full shut down from 6 pm on Thursday owing to the passage of Tropical Storm Bret.

In a national address on NBC Radio just before 4 pm Thursday, acting Prime Minister Montgomery Daniel said as at 2 pm today, SVG had been placed under a tropical storm warning, after the hurricane hunter investigating the storm found the centre to be located at a lower latitude.

At 2 pm today, the centre of Tropical Storm Bret was located at 13.4 o North and 58.9 o West or about 150 East of St Vincent and the Grenadines with maximum sustained winds of 65 miles per hour with higher gusts. The present movement is to the west.

As a result:

• All schools and the Public Service will close immediately
• There will be a full shut down of the country, including all businesses, from 6 pm today.
• Only essential services such as the police, the health services and the utilities will report to work under their department instructions
• All emergency shelters will be activated at 6 pm today
• The Operations Centre of the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) will fully activate at 6 pm today.

The acting Prime Minister said the tropical storm warning means that sustained winds of  39 – 73 mph / 63 – 118 kph are expected within 24 hours in our area. These conditions are expected across the northern part of the island by tonight and could linger across St Vincent and the Grenadines throughout Friday.

The outer bands of TS Bret will occasionally affect SVG with moderate heavy showers, periods of rainfall, isolated thunderstorms and strong gusty winds. Rainfall accumulations  of 3-6 inches of 75 – 150 mm with isolated higher amounts are likely across our islands.

He said Tropical Storm Bret has the potential to produce heavy rainfall, which can result in life threatening flash floods, landslides and lahars.

A flash flood watch remains in effect until further notice.

Residents and motorists in areas prone to flooding and landslides or near rivers and streams should be prepared.

Sea bathers are asked to stay out of the sea water. Persons living along coastal areas are asked to take the necessary precautions now.

Fisher folk are asked to pull up boats to higher ground.

“As we continue our preparations for the passage of Tropical Storm Bret, I urge all to continue to listen to the updates from the Meteorological services and all releases from NEMO. Do make your final preparations now.

“The Met Services and NEMO will continue to monitor the passage of Tropical Storm Bret over the period. Let us take this seriously and be prepared. A further update can be provided when necessary,” Daniel said.