By LEDEDRA MARCHE

Senior FN Reporter

lededra@nasguard.com

As Tropical Storm Noel weakens and makes his trek towards Grand Bahama, the Disaster Preparedness Com-mittee is assuring its readiness for any inevitability.

The committee met Tuesday afternoon in the Office of the Prime Minister to discuss the contingency plan as there is a tropical storm warning for the northwest and central Bahamas.

As of yesterday, 20 were believed to be dead in the Dominican Republic as a result of Noel and despite the fact that the tropical storm had weakened considerably, the warning is expected to continue through Thursday.

The committee, made up of officials from the Grand Bahama Health Services, Department of Social Services, Road Traffic Depart-ment, Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Ministry of Tourism, brought the media up to speed with preparations following the meeting.

Meteorologist in The Bahamas are forecasting minimal storm conditions from the system as it moves off the coast of Cuba and continues into Bahamian waters.

According to Donna Dun-combe, chief meteorologist at the Freeport Weather Depart-ment, Tropical Storm Noel was forecasted to move west of Andros, gradually turning toward the northeast and across Abaco as a moderate tropical storm on Thursday.

However, not much wind and rain is forecasted for Grand Bahama.

As Grand Bahama remains in a tropical storm warning area, there are still some necessary precautions that residents must adhere to, Duncombe said.

"Those include making sure that you monitor all local broadcasts on the tropical storm system. Don't listen to foreign (broadcasts) as we are so keen on doing," she discouraged.

Securing and removing all debris and patio furniture from around one's property, even in the threat of a tropical storm, is another must.

"It may not be the winds that we expect in a hurricane but tropical storm winds can gust up to near hurricane strength and turn outlying debris into missiles," she said.

Boaters are also being advised to remain in port.

Minister of Tourism Neko Grant noted that there are a number of protocols in place should a tropical storm or hurricane hits.

Revealing that there have been only a few cancellations, Minister Grant said they are pleased with those numbers and his ministry expects the visitors to continue to travel to Grand Bahama unless there is a change in the weather pattern.

There are 12 designated hurricane shelters on the list for 2007, however, should Tropical Storm Noel bring about any adverse conditions, officials say the Jack Hayward High School Gym, Maurice Moore Primary School, St. Georges High and Eight Mile Rock High School Gym are ready and will be utilized.

While the hurricane shelter list has been reduced significantly since last year, Housing Minister Kenneth Russell said the government's focus is that as new buildings are constructed and major repairs to existing ones are carried out they are brought up to the level of hurricane shelters.

The Eight Mile Rock Clinic is a designated disaster centre for residents of West Grand Bahama and the Rand Memorial Hospital will manage the central and eastern island.

As for those displaced residents still living in the trailer park community in West End, Senator Kay Smith said the government will treat them like it will all residents in Grand Bahama.

"If we need to evacuate them they would definitely have to go to one of the shelters," she said.

Chief Superintendent of Police Emrick Seymour said there is a plan of action in place and noted that all of the resources and assets for the have been mobilized for the Northern Bahamas.

As of 4:00 p.m. yesterday, the Police Force operation centre was opened at Police Headquarters in the Gerald Bartlett Building.

The centre will be assisting the government operation centre which has relocated to the Administrator's Office on West Atlantic Drive.

The numbers for the police centre are 350-3082/5/6 and 7 and Chief Superintendent Seymour revealed that it will be open until the passing of Tropical Storm Noel.

He also issued a stern warning to anyone contemplating any criminal activity during the passage of the tropical storm, assuring that they will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

UPDATE — Donna Duncombe, chief meteorologist at the Freeport Weather Department, updated members of the Disaster Preparedness Committee on the path being taken by Tropical Storm Noel at yesterday's meeting. (Photo by JENNEVA RUSSELL)