Update On Hotels, Airports and Cruise Ports
Airports:
* Nassau’s LPIA is fully operational. All scheduled US and international airlines are operating except AirTran. BahamasAir and Southern Air are operating limited services. Passengers should check with their carrier for confirmation, as some flights are delayed. US-bound passengers will need to post-clear, as US Preclearance is not open today and is anticipated to be partially open on Saturday. This does not affect outbound flights.
* Grand Bahama FPO closed today and is expected to reopen at 7:00 a.m. Saturday. Awaiting confirmation.
* All Family Island international airports are operating except Rock Sound, Eleuthera; Marsh Harbour and Treasure Cay, Abaco and Rum Cay.
* Marsh Harbour Airport, Sandy Point Airport, Abaco now open. Treasure Cay expected to open shortly if it has not already done so.
* Out of LPIA – Air Canada and Jet Blue (to JFK only), are upgrading their equipment today in order to ensure that any remaining pax as of Wednesday can leave today. COPA, which was not scheduled today, will resume flights Saturday and is also upgrading to a larger aircraft to accommodate addition passengers who were unable to leave on Wednesday.
NOTE:
* Bahamians travelling to the US today (and possibly tomorrow) should be aware that Visa documents are required until such time that US Preclearance operations are restored.
Hotels:
* All major resorts on Nassau-Paradise Island are open. Several properties have units out of inventory while they quickly attend to minor damage.
* Grand Bahama hotels which have reported to us that they are open for business include Pelican Bay, Castaways Resort, The Reef Village at Our Lucaya, Radisson to be fully operational Sunday.
* Bimini hotels are operational.
* Exuma Sandals Emerald Bay closed temporarily. Status of other hotels being assessed.
* Status of other Family Island Hotels is being assessed.
Cruise Ports:
* Nassau Harbour operational. Disney Magic calling today.
* Grand Bahama – Plan to resume operations tomorrow (Saturday).
The latest Bahamas Meteorological Department Alert follows:
ALERT #39
This Is Alert Number Thirty-Nine (#39) On Hurricane Irene Issued By The Bahamas Meteorological Department, At 6:00 Am Edt Friday, 26th August 2011.
… Irene Continues Its Northward Movement Away From The Bahamas.
Hurricane Warnings Remain In Effect For The Islands Of Grand Bahama And Abaco. Residents In These Islands Are Urged To Remain Indoors. Use Of The Streets Should Be For Emergency Purposes Only, As Most Will Become Impassable Due To Localized Flooding.
For The Remainder Of The Bahamas The All Clear Is Given And Residents Should Go About Their Normal Business.
At 5:00 Am Edt, The Center Of Hurricane Irene Was Located Near Latitude
29.3 Degrees North And Longitude 77.2 Degrees West About 169 Miles North-North-East Of Fox Town, Abaco And About 214 Miles North-North-East Of West End.
Irene Is Moving Toward The North Near 14 Miles Per Hour And This Motion Is Expected To Continue During The Next 24 Hours. A Gradual Turn Toward The North-Northeast Should Begin Thereafter.
Maximum Sustained Winds Are Near 110 Miles Per Hour With Higher Gusts.
Irene Is A Category Two Hurricane On The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some Re-Intensification Is Possible Today.
Irene Is A Large Tropical Cyclone. Hurricane Force Winds Extend Outward Up To 80 Miles From The Centre And Tropical Storm Force Winds Extend Outward Up To 290 Miles From The Centre.
Small Craft Operators In The Northwest Bahamas Should Remain In Port.
The Next Alert Will Be Issued At 9:00am Edt Friday 26/Aug/2011.
(Prepared By Arthur Rolle)
