Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Thanks Hants!
Currently Barbados is experiencing light rain with mild gusts of wind as the beginning of the system begins to affect Barbados.
it dont appear to me that the country is being mobilized to meet this storm. I aint hearing anything about storm shelters or any informtion from CERO. seem like the country has fallen asleep.
@Fair and Balance,
BU unofficial Bajan Canadian operatives are mobilized to keep you informed. Now go an buy some sardines,biscuits an bottle water.
I just hear Judy Thomas on the radio. Clearly we are not prepared for this storm. They can’t even open shelters tonight. this is very poor.
If I laugh I will be recall … So me no laugh, for this be serious matter … burp!
@David,
I am listening to vob929 online. This does not sound good.
@Fair and Balance,
It seems you were right. It is commendable that VOB has got David Ellis and Dennis Johnson live discussing the storm.
Stay safe people.
CERO may not be taking it seriously but Bajans are. I went to an ATM at about 7:00 p.m and it was already emptied of cash.
ATM’s empty.
Supermarkets full.
Rammed.
The Centra Emergency Relief Organization (CERO) has said that they do not have time to pen the shelters.
But the public and the media are putting pressure on CERO.
I am betting that CERO will have to give in to the pressure and open the shelters.
At present a moderate lifting wind, the temperature has dropped, and light sporadic rain.
If God is a Bajan as they say on the island, then they should have nothing to fear. It will shift and go North, South, or back East, but you all know it going pass Bim by. Thanks to the Bajan God!
I hope my family smart enough to stock up on water and canned foods, aspirin, limacol, vicks, etc., etc.
The pressure working some shelters are being open. we now waking up from our sleep
David Ellis on VOB has just announced that CERO will open catergory 1 shelters.
Obviously CERO has reconsidered.
VOB will announce the names of the shelters shortly.
The weather channel said the storm has become huge and therefore it looks like Barbados will get storm force winds which are now 60 miles an hour and increasing.
Expect the worst and prepare. It could be a cat 1 by morning and even a glancing blow can cause problems.
Don’t sleep in a room with glass windows unless you have paper taped to the glass.
If you don’t have bottled water, full up some bottles from the pipe before you go to sleep.
The big problem is going to be flooding.
Charlie
Did they say how far the wind bands spread out?
Fair and Balance
I think I read a few mins ago that the storm winds extends to about 115 miles from the center. It is expected to pass between 50-70mls to the south of B’dos which means the entire island will experience storm force winds. The system is also gaining strength and can be a cat.1 hurricane by mid-morning (sat.)
If we understand correctly they are 30 District Emergency Organizations, some even have websites.
145 miles
Sorry that is 115 miles. The forecaster said it has good outflows and therefore can breathe easier, allowing it to get stronger
This not looking good we have to hope for the best
The cat is nervous. She tried to hide in the linen cupboard. She hasn’t done that in years, since she was a kitten.
Taken from an international weather site called wunderground
the government of Barbados has changed the Tropical Storm Warning
for Barbados and St. Vincent and The Grenadines to a Hurricane
Warning.
Put 7 gallons of water in clean containers.
Put the candles and matches in a place where I can find them even in the dark.
Put a concrete block in the garbage bin to stop it from blowing away.
Turned of the gas from the main.
Cleaned and filled up the bathtub because if the power company turns off the electricity then the water company can’t pump either. And storm or not tomorrow toilets will need water in order to be flushed.
The final property insurance payment was made today, although it was mailed more than a week ago.
Ate a hot meal.
Took a bath.
Will [try] to go to sleep fully clothed.
The wind has lifted and really heavy rain has [suddenly] started.
It is not an excuse but with the focus on the Late Prime Minister’s death this system seems to have sneaked up on us. Who should we blame?
@ David
The death of the PM should have had no effect on the functioning of CERO. They were sleeping at the wheel
@David,
The system had a 10% chance of becoming a system only 48 hours ago.
This one intensified in a very short time.
The focus was probably on TS Shari which was near Bermuda.
We can do a post mortem later but I hope CERO tracks storm systems online just like BU and Caribbeancricket.com bloggers.
The eye will pass Barbados around 5am.
Let us hope we don’t get the amount of rain forecast because if we are to judge from a couple weeks ago, it does not take much for heavy flooding to occur.
David wrote “Who should we blame?”
I don’t like blaming anybody. I don’t even like the term “act of God” when bad things happen.
David this is life. Shi* happens
It is nature’s way to kill with cancer or to cause hurricanes etc.
Don’t blame God.
Don’t blame anybody.
at times like these we still wonder why isn’t the barbados doppler radar for providing real time update online to the general public. why is it that though our was one first to get going all the other site are not only up and running but also providing information online to their public.
radar mosaique for best current doppler picture for barbados. http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/antilles/pack-public/animation/animMOSAIC2.html
BU bloggers call family and friends to make sure they are updated.
Had 3 hours sleep as I planned to sleep through till morning.
The rain woke me.
Good thing.
No wind to speak of … yet.
One look at the infrared satellite and decided to move to family in a stronger house, hopefully safety in numbers.
Storing some water, unplugging refrigerator and moving with basics.
Hearing a plane at Grantley Adams but only for a short time.
Wonder what will happen there?
I beleive AA in as usual.
Probably get out ASAP.
Looks like there will be time before the blow.
Who knows?
God speed all.
Gone … hopefully for the moment.
Not much wind in Husbands, St James area but rains are becoming heavier
TOMAS is passing to the South of Barbados which is unusual, Christ Church and St. Phillip are likely to feel the brunt.
@David,
The eye is passing to the south. The whole Island could feel the outer bands.
check out the weather dot com site I posted earlier.
David. This is the same route by Janet in 1955. Anytime a system forms to the south and within 300 to 400 miles east south east, Barbados usually be affected. The odd one was the one that formed to the south east and instead of turning to the WNW, kept on a westerly path way south of us and devastated Grenada a few years ago just before The World Cup. Anyway, I hope that we forget our usually cry that God lives here and brace ourselves for this system. Let’s pray for the safety of all.
God will help us; do not panic. God Himself is with us.
I cannot believe that there is currently a hurricane warning (Advisory 3A) for Barbados at a time when you can do nothing to get prepared. Why was the alarm not sounded earlier? A Friday evening Tropical Warning is absolutely not acceptable!!! NO!!!A joker on the radio said that we are in Hurricane Season and we should be prepared. Yes that is true but it also the responsibility of those at the Met office and other disaster agencies to ensure the safety of all Barbadians by ensuring that information is properly disseminated!!!!
At 4:23 a.m.very heavy gusty winds which is rattling the windows and doors.
Squaly showers.
No lightning or thunder yet.
Very, very strong winds now.
All utilities still on.
I expect that the power company will have to cut soon.
But it is almost daylight.
The sun will rise at 5:52 a.m.
Admiral Nelson and Derry Bowen? For goodness sakes CBC could’nt find two less phony sounding people than these two.
I can hear the fruit dropping from the trees, bup, bup, bup, bup-bub, constantly, and now I can see some branches being shorn off.
I was one of those caught unawares by this storm, which has produced more wind gusts than I can remember from any other storm in recent memory. Since about 4am I have been listening to CBC radio, and would like to commend Admiral Nelson, Pearson Bowen, and Deri Bowen for their work in taking calls etc. However, it appears that there are many people who don’t know who they should be contacting, or what steps they can take when they are finding their roofs gone and houses damaged etc. I do think it would have been useful if an Emergency Management representative would have been present with them to advise people as to what is happening and what can happen with regards to help while the storm is passing.
BU and all stay safe. Tomas seems to be a bad a* s.Reports are some people roofs have been blown off.
Tomas is a strange system. Virtually no thunder or lighting; mainly rain and gusts of wind.
This type of system produces tornadoes. It can get very ugly before it gets better.
BU family this is a serious event. Hope you all get through safely.
I am listening to VOB and it seems that are a lot of roofs have been blown off.
@ David
….ready to start worrying yet?
….you believe in signs?
Don’t mind MME with his misplaced faith in science you hear…?
@Bush Tea,
What signs what. lol
Seriously BT, I hope you are safe where you are and that you get through this without any problems.
@Bush Tee
The long held view that Barbados is God’s country and will be protected even if others are destroyed in the process has now been shattered.
On a related note the ignorance of many Bajans who are venturing outdoors in the prevailing conditions exposes an unbelievable ignorance. What is our touted literacy again.
God job VOB and CBC.
The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.