Cablegate: Embassy Kingston Contingency Plans for Hurricane

R 071953Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY KINGSTON
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6928
INFO AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA
AMEMBASSY MEXICO
AMEMBASSY NASSAU
AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE
AMEMBASSY SAN SALVADOR
AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO
AMEMBASSY TEGUCIGALPA
USINT HAVANA
USOFFICE FRC FT LAUDERDALE

UNCLAS KINGSTON 000950

DEPARTMENT FOR CA/OCS FOR YOLANDA PARRA, S/ES-O, S/ES-O/CMS
FOR ELIAS PARRA, DS/IP/WHA, WHA/CAR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC CASC CI JM
SUBJECT: EMBASSY KINGSTON CONTINGENCY PLANS FOR HURRICANE
PALOMA

1. Embassy Kingston's EAC met on 11/6/08 and 11/7/08 to
discuss contingency plans for Hurricane Paloma. The storm is
expected to pass west of the island of Jamaica, possibly
bringing heavy rains to Negril and Montego Bay, Jamaica.
However, this forecast path will take the storm over the
Cayman Islands, for which Kingston has Consular and RSO
responsibilities. In anticipation of this course, Kingston's
EAC attempted to deploy one Vice Consul to the Cayman
Islands, prior to the arrival of Tropical Storm Paloma. The
Vice Consul would have departed Kingston and arrived in Grand
Cayman on Friday morning, 11/7/08, to support the Consular
Agent on Grand Cayman with assistance to American citizens.
Vice Consul was in possession of a Consular Fly Away Kit,
with the latest communication equipment. Unfortunately,
Cayman Airways canceled the Friday morning flight, and the
Vice Consul will not be able to reach the Cayman Islands
before the hurricane arrives.

2. In addition to these actions, RSO updated and distributed
copies of post's Cascade telephone listing for Embassy
employees. Consular Section drafted and had approved a
Warden Message alerting American citizens in Jamaica of the
hurricane. This Warden Message was distributed
electronically to all personnel at post. Embassy Kingston
remains in touch with the Consular Agents in Montego Bay,
Jamaica and the Cayman Islands for updates of information on
the hurricane, and will report septel.

HEG

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