FRENCH MINISTRY ALERTS ON HURRICANE IRMA CATEGORIE 5 SMASHES CARRIBEAN ISLANDS

USPA NEWS - Hurricane Irma has smashed Saint-Martin, Saint-Barthélemy and Guadeloupe in the last few hours. According to Interior Minister Gerard Collomb, Irma caused "material damage" Irma, "of unprecedented intensity on the Atlantic", fell on Wednesday on St. Bartholomew and St. Martin, where it has already caused "significant material damage", after touching Barbuda a little earlier. The eye of the hurricane, about 50 km in diameter, remained about 1h30 on Saint Barthélemy and then touched Saint-Martin The two inter-ministerial crisis cells, following the evolution of Irma and its consequences, had been activated on Tuesday by the Prime Minister. French Ministry of overseas has released warnings and guidelines to the inhabitants of the cited islands. Form yellow to purple level, the warnings alert and give indication to what to do and what to avoid in case of being closed to the hurricane's trajectory. These warnings are spread on TV and Radio.

The French authorities announced on Wednesday the establishment of two telephone numbers to obtain more information on the situation on the spot. While the French islands of Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélémy found themselves in the eye of hurricane Irma, Wednesday morning, the interministerial crisis cell activated to follow the damage, announced the establishment of two numbers of call for more information on the situation on the spot.---------------------------------------------- “¢ CALL : +33 1 82 71 03 37 (from the France)---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1-Find the lists of shelters in your locality as well as the safety instructions of the Ministry of the Interior, the prefectures of Guadeloupe of Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2- AT THE "RED" LEVEL IMMEDIATELY regain the dwellings and regroup as much as possible all the members of the family; - If the dwelling is not a solid construction or if it is located in an area threatened by a storm surge or a flood, gain a safe shelter, signaled by the services of the communities, the rescue centers of the fire brigades and the national gendarmerie; 3- In the case of shelter in a safe community shelter, make this choice known to neighbors or family and stick to it; - Public, economic and external activities are gradually ceasing; - Unplug the TV antennas; - Stay tuned to the media (radio, television, Internet). AT THE "PURPLE" LEVEL DURING THE HURRICANE The level of vigilance "PURPLE" is activated when the effects of the cyclone begin to be felt on all or part of the territory. Weather conditions are very dangerous and all activities are stopped. Traffic and all travel are prohibited. Only the intervention services (SDIS, SMUR, Gendarmerie nationale, territorial services) carry out the last patrols of control at the triggering of this level of alert.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DURING THE PASSAGE OF THE HURRICANE: - Stay tuned to the media (radio, television, Internet); - Stay in your shelter until the end of the alert; - Provide means for the consolidation of the doors and windows of the house or apartment, if applicable; - Keep away from windows; - Disconnect the mains power supply; - Do not use a naked flame. CALL : +590 5 96 39 36 00 (from the West Indies)------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Safety Check enabled on Facebook. The Ministry of the Interior also said on Wednesday that Facebook had activated the "Safety Check", allowing Internet users to report themselves in security. Source : Ministry of Overseas