Serena Williams and fiance Alexis Ohanian introduce daughter Alexis Olympia
Tennis star Serena Williams and fiance Alexis Ohanian have officially introduced their daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr.
Williams, 35, took to her Instagram page to share a photo of the baby, who was born Sept. 1, as well as videos from various stages in her pregnancy.
The 6-pound, 14-ounce newborn, who has an Instagram handle of her own (@olympiaohanian), left the hospital after nearly a week, according to her mother, who said in the footage, which was also posted to Ohanian's YouTube channel, "we had a lot of complications."
"Welcome, Alexis Olympia Ohanian, Jr., we're so happy to meet you," Ohanian, 34, wrote today in an Instagram caption. "Our little girl is already mama's perfect sidekick."
This is the first child for Williams and Reddit co-founder Ohanian, who got engaged in December. The couple announced they were expecting in April.
The confirmation came after Williams shared a photo of her pregnant stomach on Snapchat with the caption, "20 weeks."
Williams said in July that the time off from tennis was a welcome change of pace.
“I’ve never had this time off before, or if I have I’ve been injured and it’s really different to be injured as opposed to be expecting,” she told ABC News. “I’ve been really enjoying my time off and getting ready for this new massive chapter in my life.”
Win-win: Paris awarded '24 Olympics, LA gets '28
The tears welling in the Paris mayor's eyes told the story one way. The words the Los Angeles mayor spoke told it another.
This was one of those rare Olympic moments when everyone walked away a winner.
Paris for 2024. Los Angeles for 2028. And the International Olympic Committee for transforming its unruly, tension-filled and sometimes corrupt bidding process into a history-making, two-city victory that secures the future of the Games for the next 11 years.
"This is a pretty radical revolution today," LA mayor Eric Garcetti said. "Usually, we have two or three cities crying in a corner, and one glorious victory. In this world, there are enough losers today, enough people who go after dreams to have them crushed. Today, we model something that can be different."
Different, as in the first time the IOC has granted two Summer Olympics at once. And different, in that there was no need for a secret ballot or any last-minute, back-room deal making. This result came after a year's worth of scrambling by IOC president Thomas Bach, who had only the two bidders left for the original prize, 2024, and couldn't afford to see either lose.
There was no drama — the decision had been locked in for more than a month. But to say there was no emotion would not be true.
After Bach called for a show of hands to approve the dual award, dozens of arms shot skyward from the audience; moments later, Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo stood next to the IOC president dabbing tears from her eyes.
"It was a very strong, very emotive moment," Hidalgo said. "We are all united. Altogether, it's very special for us, because in France, and in other countries, that's not usual."
Moments after the vote, Bach handed cards with the winners' names on them to Hidalgo and Garcetti. One read "Paris 2024," and the other "LA 2028." It was a mere formality, yet both mayors held them aloft with wide smiles on their faces.
Both cities will host their third Olympics.
The Paris Games will come on the 100th anniversary of its last turn. That milestone, plus the fact that Paris has been on the losing end of these bids for 1992, 2008 and 2012, would have made the French capital the sentimental favorite had only 2024 been up for grabs.
Los Angeles moved to 2028, and those Olympics will halt a stretch of 32 years without a Summer Games in the United States. In exchange for the compromise, LA will grab an extra $300 million or more that could help offset the uncertainties that lie ahead over an 11-year wait instead of seven.
"We're ready now," Garcetti insisted, speaking of a city that has virtually every sports venue already in place.
Without any nail-biting conclusion to see, the post-vote celebration at the Eiffel Tower was a sparsely attended near rain-out. Los Angeles held a small event with Olympians Nastia Liukin and John Naber standing beneath the blazing Olympic cauldron at the famous LA Coliseum, but it was mostly media, and no fans.
Meanwhile, in the Lima exhibition hall, the California-cool LA delegation wore sneakers to the presentation, and was going to forego neckties, too, before thinking better of it.
In this never-before-seen style of selection, Bach asked the 94 IOC members to allow the real contests to play out at the Olympics themselves and transform the vote from a game of sorts into a pure business decision.
It wasn't such a bad idea considering the news still seeping out about a bid scandal involving a Brazilian IOC member's alleged vote-selling to bring the 2016 Olympics to Rio de Janeiro.
More than that, Bach needed to ensure stability for his brand.
The public in many cities is no longer keen to approve blank checks for bid committees and governments that have to come up with the millions simply to bid for the Olympics, then billions more to stage them if they win.
That reality hit hard when three of the original five bidders for 2024 — Rome, Hamburg, Germany, and Budapest, Hungary — dropped out, and the U.S. Olympic Committee had to pull the plug on its initial candidate, Boston, due to lack of public support.
"This is a solution to an awkward problem," said longtime IOC member Dick Pound of Canada.
It was solved by Paris and Los Angeles, two cities with a storied tradition of Olympic hosting and an apparent understanding of Bach's much-touted reform package, known as Agenda 2020. It seeks to streamline the Games, most notably by eliminating billion-dollar stadiums and infrastructure projects that have been underused, if used at all, once the Olympics leave town.
Can they deliver?
Paris will have the traditional seven-year time frame to answer that.
Only one totally new venue is planned — a swimming and diving arena to be built near the Stade de France, which will serve as the Olympic stadium. In all, the projected cost of new venues and upgrades to others is $892 million.
To be sure, Paris already has much to work with. Beach volleyball will be played near the Eiffel Tower; cycling will finish at the Arc de Triomphe; equestrian will be held at the Chateau de Versailles. And what would an Olympics be without some water-quality issues? There will be pressure to clean up the River Seine, which is where open-water and triathlon will be held.
Los Angeles, meanwhile, will get an extra four years that Garcetti insists is hardly needed. Los Angeles proposed a $5.3 billion budget for 2024 (to be adjusted for 2028) that included infrastructure, operational costs — everything. A big number, indeed, though it must be put into perspective: Earlier this summer, organizers in Tokyo estimated their cost for the 2020 Games at $12.6 billion.
Traffic could be a problem — it almost always is in LA — but the city will be well along in its multi-decade, multibillion-dollar transit upgrade by 2028. Those with long memories recall free-flowing highways the last time the Olympics came to town, as locals either left the city or heeded warnings to use public transportation or stay home.
Those 1984 Games essentially saved the Olympic movement after a decade of terror, red ink and a boycott sullied the brand and made hosting a burden. The city points to its Olympic legacy to explain a nearly unheard-of 83 percent approval rating in a self-commissioned poll — not an insignificant factor when the IOC picks a place to bring its crown-jewel event.
Along with Paris, LA is stepping in again to try to change the conversation about what hosting the Olympics can really be.
"I think it's a very positive message about the value of the Olympic movement and the value of the Olympic Games," said Sergei Bubka, the Olympic champion pole vaulter, who is an honorary member of the IOC. "I think we're going in the right direction."
8 dead after Irma knocks out air conditioning at Florida nursing home
Eight people have died after Hurricane Irma knocked out air conditioning at a nursing home in Hollywood, Florida, police said.
While the cause of death was not immediately clear, the facility, Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills, evacuated all its residents to hospitals because of the cooling problem.
Most of the deceased were treated for respiratory distress, dehydration and heat-related issues, officials said. Their ages ranged from 71 to 99, the Hollywood Police Department said at a news conference this evening.
Hollywood Fire Rescue crews responded to a call at about 3 a.m. today for a patient who was reported to be in cardiac arrest, and the patient was transported to a hospital, police said.
At 4 a.m., firefighters were sent back to the facility to transport a patient reported to be experiencing breathing problems, police said. After the second call, fire officials called the state Department of Children and Families to report concerns about the facility.
A third call later came in as well, police said. After fire rescue crews arrived, three patients were found dead on the second floor of the nursing home, and several other patients were found to be in "varying degrees of medical distress," authorities said.
Of the eight deaths, seven occurred today, and one Tuesday night.
All remaining patients were removed from the center by 9:15 a.m., after additional rescue units were called in and a complete evacuation of the facility was ordered, police said.
Broward County Mayor Barbara Sharief tonight said the center had contacted the county’s Emergency Operations Center Tuesday morning to alert the health and medical team that it had lost power. The incident was then reported as a “mission-critical request” to Florida Power & Light for power restoration.
Later that day, the center said it had done a survey of the property and that a tree had landed on a transformer, Sharief said. When asked by emergency workers whether they had any medical needs or emergencies, center officials “did not request assistance or indicate any medical emergency existed,” Sharief said.
Officials said 18 additional patients from an adjoining facility were also relocated because of the investigation, although those patients were "not medically compromised."
Dr. Randy Katz, director of emergency services at Memorial Regional Hospital, which is next to the nursing home but is not affiliated with it, said there were extremely high temperatures on the nursing home's second floor.
A person handling air conditioning for the facility told ABC Fort Lauderdale affiliate WPLG-TV that a fuse was damaged during Irma, resulting in cooling issues for the past few days. The facility itself has power, the individual said.
Nursing home administrator Jorge Carballo said in a statement that the facility was evacuated this morning "due to a prolonged power failure to the transformer which powered the facility's air conditioning system as a result of the hurricane."
"Unfortunately, early this morning several patients experienced distress and there were three fatalities at the facility," followed by other fatalities at "the hospital they were transferred to," Carballo said.
"Facility administration is cooperating fully with relevant authorities to investigate the circumstances that led to this unfortunate and tragic outcome. Our hearts go out to the families and friends of those who were affected," he added.
In a later statement today , Carballo expressed hcondolences to the family members of the deceased and provided further details on what transpired at the nursing home.
"The center and its medical and administrative staff diligently prepared for the impact of Hurricane Irma,” Carballo said. “We took part in emergency management preparedness calls with local and state emergency officials, other nursing homes and health regulators. While our center did not lose power during the storm, it did lose one transformer that powers the air conditioning unit. The center immediately contacted Florida Power & Light and continued to follow up with them for status updates on when repairs would be made. Outreach was also made to local emergency officials and first responders.”
The center had a generator on standby "in compliance with state regulations," as well as seven days of food, water, ice and other supplies, including gas for the generator, Carballo added. After the air conditioning went down, staff set up "mobile cooling units and fans to cool the facility," Carballo said. Staff also "continually checked on residents' well-being" to ensure they were "hydrated and as comfortable as possible," Carballo said.
"We are devastated by these losses," Carballo said. "We are fully cooperating with all authorities and regulators to assess what went wrong and to ensure our other residents are cared for."
The Florida governor's office said Department of Health officials were "in contact with Larkin Community Hospital Behavioral Health Services management and the Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills over the past three days" and that "hospital administrators were advised to call 911 if they had any reason to believe that the health or safety of patients was at risk."
The governor's office said Tuesday "the facility reported to the AHCA [Agency for Health Care Administration] that they had power and access to fans and spot coolers."
Police said a criminal investigation is underway and they are not ruling anything out.
"This was a terrible incident,” Katz, the director of emergency services at nearby Memorial Regional Hospital, said. “The scene was chaotic when I arrived. The fact that it's down the street — you know, we don’t have control over what goes on in that facility."
Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy said temperatures have climbed to over 90 degrees in the city and that half of Hollywood is without power.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott said in a statement that he was "heartbroken" to learn of the deaths and he is "going to aggressively demand answers."
"This situation is unfathomable," Scott said. "Every facility that is charged with caring for patients must take every action and precaution to keep their patients safe, especially patients that are in poor health."
Scott said he has directed the state Agency for Health Care Administration and the Department of Children and Families to work with law enforcement on an investigation. "If they find that anyone wasn't acting in the best interests of their patients, we will hold them accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” the governor said.
Scott said he is also asking available first responders to check with their area health facilities to make sure nursing homes are keeping their residents safe.
The medical examiner's office said the victims were: Bobby Owens, 84; Manuel Mario Medieta, 96; Miguel Antonio Franco, 92; Estella Hendricks, 71; Gail Nova, 71; Carolyn Eatherly, 78; Betty Hibbard, 84; and Albertina Vega, 99.
Amber Mickles, whose great-grandmother is a patient at the nursing home, told reporters she believes her great-grandmother is OK, but she's "trying to see exactly what's going on because we don't really know."
Mickles said she was not notified of any air conditioning issues.
"I can't even take the heat right now from the air conditioning down," she said. "I'm 29, I can't take it."
"I feel very sorry for the ones that lost somebody," she added. "I think you should've had the option to come pick up your family member."
The nursing home has faced problems in the past. In the past three years, the center has had multiple citations for health deficiencies, according to the Medicare website.
In addition, a report from the Agency for Health Care Administration found that the center is in the bottom 20 percent for inspection, quality of care and dignity.
Car sales hit major speed bump in Brexit Britain
Is the British auto industry running out of gas?
Auto sales in the U.K. dropped by 9.3% in July compared to the previous year, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. It was the fourth consecutive monthly decline.
It's a trend being driven by uncertainty over Brexit.
"The fall in consumer and business confidence is having a knock on effect on demand in the new car market and government must act quickly to provide concrete plans regarding Brexit," said Mike Hawes, the industry group's chief executive.
Britain started exit negotiations with the European Union in June, but there has been little clarity on what its future relationship with the bloc might look like.
Many businesses have delayed investments while they wait for more information. Consumers, meanwhile, are avoiding major purchases where they can.
The consumer spending slowdown has been fueled in large part by a sharp decline in the value of the pound, which has dropped 13% since the referendum in June 2016. Its weakness has made imported goods more expensive.
"This is consistent with the overall softness in consumer spending over the year so far, particularly a reluctance to make major buys," said Howard Archer, chief economic adviser to the EY ITEM Club.
It's not just auto sales that are suffering.
The number of cars produced in the U.K. fell by nearly 14% in June compared to the previous year, according to SMMT data released last week. It was the third consecutive month of lower output in row.
Britain's auto industry, which is worth an estimated $100 billion, was at the forefront of Brexit fears even before sales and production numbers dropped.
Cars made in Britain get nearly 60% of their parts from outside the U.K. -- mostly from the EU -- and about 55% of those cars are sold back into the EU. Any new tariffs resulting from Brexit would seriously hurt the profitability of domestic automakers.
Industry executives are facing key decisions on investment and production in the U.K. They may feel compelled to make new models in the EU, rather than risk facing new tariffs on exports (and imported parts) after Brexit.
The industry has received one boost in recent weeks. BMW (BMWYY) announced in late July that it will produce new electric Minis at an existing factory in Oxford, England that employs 4,200 workers.
Apple's iPhone X: Face ID, no home button, $999
Ten years after the launch of the first iPhone, Apple has revealed the iPhone X.
It has no home button, scans your face to log you in and costs $999.
The company unveiled its anniversary edition smartphone, alongside the iPhone 8 and its bigger sibling, the iPhone 8 Plus. To introduce the iPhone X, Apple CEO Tim Cook uttered the classic line at its annual press conference: "One more thing."
"We have great respect for these words and don't use them lightly," said Cook, adding the new phone would set the path for technology for the next decade.
The new iPhone X kills the home button to make space for a larger screen. It has an edge-to-edge display, glass on the front and back, wireless charging so you can leave wires at home, a surgical grade stainless steel band around the edges. It's water and dust resistant.
The 5.8-inch OLED display isn't just bigger, it also packs 458 pixels per inch. Apple (AAPL, Tech30) calls it a Super Retina Display. It supports HDR, has a million-to-one contrast ration and improved color accuracy.
The loss of the home button means no more fingerprint sensor. To unlock the phone, you can use your face with a new technology called Face ID. Front-facing cameras and sensors create a map of your face to determine if you are the phone's proper owner. It uses a flood light to work in the dark.
Apple said face detection is more secure than fingerprints. It added there was a one in 50,000 chance of a random person being able to open your phone with their fingerprint. But those chances drop to 1 in a million with face detection.
The company also introduced a Face ID-enabled feature called Animoji, which serves up animated emoji that mimic your facial expressions. For example, you'll be able to give your friends side-eye as a unicorn.
Apple spent a significant amount of time hyping up its 12mp dual cameras with image stabilization. Schiller said the new front facing cameras will "revolutionize" selfies by adding portrait mode.
Wireless charging, available on both the iPhone X and iPhone 8 devices, is a big move forward, too. It's based on Qi wireless charging, which Apple believes will be available at coffee shops, stores and airports around the world in the near future, so people can get juice on the go.
The iPhone X will start at $999 and start shipping November 3 -- more than a month later than all the other devices announced on Tuesday.
For those not willing to shell out a grand for a new iPhone, the iPhone 8 options are cheaper and also pack a powerful punch. They're faster, sturdier and better at snapping photos than the previous iPhone..
On the surface, the devices look similar to the iPhone 7. The iPhone 8 clocks in at 4.7 inches and iPhone 8 Plus is 5.5 inches. But inside is an A11 "bionic chip" and an improved camera sensor. There are new camera modes, including an expanded Portrait Mode that lets you change lighting effects after you take the shot.
The company also teased some of the new features coming to iOS 11, including augmented reality.
iPhone 8 smartphones, which come with an aluminum band around the edges, will be available in three colors: space gray, gold and silver. The iPhone 8 will start at $699 and the iPhone 8 Plus is $799 for 64 GB models.
Pre-orders start Friday, September 15 and hit stores the following Friday, September 22.
Apple also announced a new cellular Apple Watch, which Cook called the device the best-selling watch in the world. The waterproof Apple Watch has an even greater focus on fitness and health. For example, it flags users when it detects an elevated pulse.
The Apple Watch was the first product unveiled inside the circular Steve Jobs Theater, part of Apple's brand new multi-billion dollar campus in Cupertino, California. The spaceship-shaped campus is expected to open later this year.
The event opened with a short inspirational video with featured audio by late Apple founder Steve Jobs.
"It seems only fitting that Steve should open his theater," Cook told attendees. "Steve meant so much to me and so much to all of us. There's not a day that goes by that we don't think about him. Memories especially come rushing back as we prepared for today and this event."
Cook also used his stage time to send thoughts and prayers to those impacted by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
The event comes a little more than ten years after Steve Jobs unveiled the very first iPhone on stage in San Francisco. That small rectangle has been responsible for making Apple one of the largest companies in the world. Now, the iPhone accounts for nearly 70% of Apple's revenue. Customers and investors have been waiting for a big iPhone upgrade, which Cook even blamed for slower than usual iPhone sales last year.
FLIGHTS RESUME: TCI is Open to Receive Guests
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands; Monday, September 11th, 2017 - The Turks and Caicos Islands Airport Authority (TCIAA) announced the reopening of the Providenciales International Airport (PLS) for scheduled flights as of 11AM today, Monday, September 11th.
“The Airport Authority remains committed to the safety of aircraft, passengers, staff and other uses of the airport,” said Lavern Skippings- Reynolds, its Terminal and Marketing Manager. “We regret any inconvenience caused and passengers are asked to contact their respective airline for flight scheduling.”
It was only last Thursday, through to the early hours of Friday, 7th and 8th September respectively, when Hurricane Irma, a Category Five Hurricane hit the Turks and Caicos Islands. As a result, the Islands experienced extreme winds, heavy rainfall and intense storm surge. Irma was the most powerful storm to make landfall.
Initial reports from the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME) indicated localized flooding, damages to property (chiefly roofs) and landscaping, along with electricity and communication outages; however, teams are currently rectifying them at a speedy pace. Fortunately, there have been no reports of deaths or serious injuries.
Numerous guests since today's announcement were seen at the airport today following the arrival of Air Canada.
Following the reopening, Mr Ramon Andrews, Director of Tourism said: “Destination Turks and Caicos remains strong in the face of this storm. Our product is resilient. We pride ourselves on making every effort to return to normalcy as a country. Our relationship with our guests is a symbiotic one, one which we respect and cherish. It is indeed our pleasure to welcome you back to ‘Beautiful by Nature’ Turks and Caicos. Please do holiday with us soon”.
During the months of September and October, many hotels and resorts are historically closed annually for refurbishments. Owing to Irma’s passage, some properties have now elected to close to assess any damages that may have occurred and are expected to reopen at the beginning of October 2017. The travelling public is asked to contact properties directly for updates. Additionally, villa properties are expect to be operational in the short term and persons are invited to contact them directly, to determine their availability.
For Visitors to the Islands in need of further assistance, kindly contact the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board at:
New York Office: 1.800.241.0825
Canada Office: 1.866.413.8875
London Office + 44 (0) 207 034 7845
Recovery efforts focused on Cockburn Town Medical Centre
(Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Monday, September 11th, 2017): InterHealth Canada (TCI) Ltd Senior Management team continues to focus efforts on providing support to Cockburn Town Medical Centre on Grand Turk in the midst of connectivity issues and limited access to the island via air travel in recent days following the passage of Hurricane Irma.
The healthcare management company is endeavoring to secure a chartered flight as soon as possible in order to deploy a team of Senior Managers to the island to provide support and conduct assessments on the infrastructural and clinical needs of the capital’s medical centre.
Chief of Medical Services, Dr. Denise Braithwaite-Tennant also travelled to Grand Turk today - Monday, September, 11th 2017, to conduct a preliminary evaluation of resources, provisions, equipment, consumables and clinical needs for current and future patients. Following the assessment, support will be mobilized and deployed.
Cockburn Town Medical Centre is being prioritized for repairs and assistance, as we continue to monitor the trajectory of Hurricane Jose and most importantly recover from Category 5 Hurricane Irma. A state of emergency was declared on the island of Grand Turk.
Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital is also providing support to staff members who were displaced by the recent storm including medical staff who were on-site providing essential services to the country during the Hurricane.
FortisTCI has restored electricity to Cheshire Hall Medical Centre, however, as a precautionary measure to avoid any potential system damage from electricity surges or load tests, the facility remains on generator-power until hospital engineers are confident in a safe, smooth cross-over. FortisTCI remains the secondary fall-back system for electricity until regularity and dependability is assured.
Stay tuned to our Facebook page and mainstream media outlets for information on the progression of recovery efforts and updates on any changes to hospital services post- Hurricane Irma.
DIGICEL GIVES CUSTOMERS FREE ANYWHERE MINUTES FOR IRMA
With the potential threat of Hurricane Irma on several islands across the Caribbean, Digicel today announced that it is providing its customers in the affected markets with free call credit to communicate with their loved ones throughout the hurricane.
From last night, customers’ accounts in Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Haiti, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis and the Turks and Caicos Islands have been credited with US$10 local Anywhere Minutes to call friends and family on any local network over the next 48 hours.
“We understand the need to be able to quickly reach out to our loved ones to ensure they are safe throughout a disaster and we are happy to provide our customers with the means to do so,” said Vanessa Slowey, CEO Digicel Caribbean and Central America. “Importantly, the safety and security of our customers is always our first priority and so we encourage everyone to stay up to date with weather alerts and stay safe during the storm.”
As early as Monday, Digicel activated its activated its crisis management and contingency planning in light of Hurricane Irma to ensure that everything is in place to best manage events of the coming days. “We have mobilised our teams and field engineers so we can act immediately. They are working around the clock and doing everything humanly possible to ensure that all our cell sites across our markets are in good order and ready to go,” added Slowey.
Hurricane Irma is said to be the strongest storm ever recorded in the Atlantic outside of the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. The storm is reported to have maintained its 185-mph winds after making its first landfall on Barbuda early Wednesday morning.
Digicel said it will continue to provide updates via its social media pages and the media in terms of recovery support and office closure in affected markets.
Alert #12: EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CORE OF CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE IRMA PASSING OVER THE NORTHERN MOST VIRGIN ISLANDS
A HURRICANE WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR THE ISLANDS OF THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS AND THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS. THIS INCLUDES THE ISLANDS OF MAYAGUANA, INAGUA, CROOKED ISLAND, ACKLINS, RAGGED ISLAND, LONG CAY, SAMANA CAY AND THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS.
A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS CAN AFFECT THE AFOREMENTIONED ISLANDS WITHIN 36 HOURS.
A HURRICANE WATCH IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR THE ISLANDS OF THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS. THIS INCLUDES THE ISLANDS OF LONG ISLAND, CAT ISLAND, RUM CAY, SAN SALVADOR AND THE EXUMAS
A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS COULD AFFECT THE AFOREMENTIONED ISLANDS WITHIN 48 HOURS
A HURRICANE ALERT IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS. THIS INCLUDES THE ISLANDS OF ELEUTHERA, NEW PROVIDENCE, ANDROS, THE BERRY ISLANDS, BIMINI, GRAND BAHAMA AND ABACO.
A HURRICANE ALERT MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS COULD AFFECT THE AFOREMENTIONED ISLANDS WITHIN 60 HOURS.
AT 2PM EDT, THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IRMA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 18.5 DEGREES NORTH AND LONGITUDE 64.7 DEGREES WEST OR ABOUT 20 MILES EAST- NORTHEAST OF ST THOMAS, 469 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, 584 MILES SOUTHEAST OF MATTHEW TOWN INAGUA AND 932 MILES SOUTHEAST OF NEW PROVIDENCE.
HURRICANE IRMA IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST AT ABOUT 16 MPH AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. ON THE FORECAST TRACK, THE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CORE OF IRMA WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE OVER PORTIONS OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS, IRMA WILL THEN PASS NEAR OR JUST NORTH OF PUERTO RICO THIS AFTERNOON OR TONIGHT AND NEAR THE TURKS AND CAICOS AND THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS LATE THURSDAY.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN NEAR 185 MILES PER HOUR WITH HIGHER GUSTS. IRMA IS A CATEGORY FIVE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE WIND SCALE. SOME FLUCTUATIONS IN INTENSITY ARE LIKELY DURING THE NEXT DAY OR TWO, BUT IRMA IS FORECAST TO REMAIN A POWERFUL CATEGORY FOUR OR FIVE HURRICANE DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.
HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 50 MILES FROM THE CENTER AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 185 MILES FROM THE CENTER.
EVACUTION IS IN PROCESS FOR RESIDENTS IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS NAMELY: INAGUA, MAYAGUANA, CROOKED ISLAND, ACKLINS, RAGGED ISLAND, LONG CAY, SAMANA CAY AND THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS. RESIDENTS IN LONG ISLAND, CAT ISLAND, RUM CAY, SAN SALVADOR AND THE EXUMAS SHOULD RUSH TO COMPLETE ALL HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS AS HURRICANE IRMA WILL BEGIN TO AFFECT THESE ISLANDS FRIDAY MORNING. RESIDENTS IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS INCLUSIVE OF ELEUTHERA, NEW PROVIDENCE, ANDROS, THE BERRY ISLANDS, BIMINI, GRAND BAHAMA AND ABACO SHOULD CONTINUE TO MAKE PREPARATIONS AND PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO ALL ALERTS ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY.
EXTENSIVE TO SEVERE FLOODING CAN BE EXPECTED AS IRMA IS FORECAST TO PRODUCE RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 8 TO 12 INCHES.
THE COMBINATION OF DANGEROUS STORM SURGE AND LARGE DESTRUCTIVE WAVES CAN RAISE WATER LEVELS BY AS MUCH AS 15 TO 20 FEET ABOVE THE NORMAL TIDE. RESIDENTS LIVING NEAR THE COAST ARE ASKED TO MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND INLAND.
SMALL CRAFT OPERATORS THROUGHOUT THE BAHAMAS AND THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS SHOULD IMMEDIATELY SEEK SAFE HARBOUR FOR THEIR VESSELS.
Alert #13: EYE OF CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE IRMA MOVING AWAY FROM THE NORTHERN MOST VIRGIN ISLANDS
A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ISLANDS OF THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS CAN AFFECT THE AFOREMENTIONED ISLANDS WITHIN 36 HOURS.
AT 5PM EDT, THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IRMA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 18.8 DEGREES NORTH AND LONGITUDE 65.4 DEGREES WEST OR ABOUT 447 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS.
HURRICANE IRMA IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST AT ABOUT 16 MPH AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. ON THE FORECAST TRACK, THE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CORE OF IRMA WILL PASS NEAR THE TURKS AND CAICOS AND THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS LATE THURSDAY.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN NEAR 185 MILES PER HOUR WITH HIGHER GUSTS. IRMA IS A CATEGORY FIVE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE WIND SCALE. SOME FLUCTUATIONS IN INTENSITY ARE LIKELY DURING THE NEXT DAY OR TWO, BUT IRMA IS FORECAST TO REMAIN A POWERFUL CATEGORY FOUR OR FIVE HURRICANE DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.
HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 50 MILES FROM THE CENTER AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 185 MILES FROM THE CENTER.
RESIDENTS IN THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS RUSH TO COMPLETE ALL HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS AND PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO ALL ALERTS ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT AND EMERGENCIES.
EXTENSIVE TO SEVERE FLOODING CAN BE EXPECTED AS IRMA IS FORECAST TO PRODUCE RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 8 TO 12 INCHES.
THE COMBINATION OF DANGEROUS STORM SURGE AND LARGE DESTRUCTIVE WAVES CAN RAISE WATER LEVELS BY AS MUCH AS 15 TO 20 FEET ABOVE THE NORMAL TIDE. RESIDENTS LIVING NEAR THE COAST ARE ASKED TO MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND INLAND.
SMALL CRAFT OPERATORS THROUGHOUT THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS SHOULD IMMEDIATELY SEEK SAFE HARBOUR FOR THEIR VESSELS