SITUATION REPORT # 1

Issued by the National Emergency Office, St Vincent

EVENT:                       Tropical Depression Number Two (TD #2)

DATE:                         August 4, 2004

SITUATION:               E.T. Joshua Airport Flooded Out

Over the last 24 hours, rainfall associated with the passage of

TD # 2 was recorded at 234.8mm in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The extreme rainfall has resulted in flooding in some low lying areas of the country including the E. T. Joshua Airport at Arnos Vale. A nearby drain became blocked overnight and deposited large quantities of mud and debris into the Airport Terminal as well as on part of the Runway. As a result, the Airport is temporarily closed to facilitate a massive clean up exercise. The Airport is expected to reopen by approximately 9.00am today.

Elsewhere, blocked drains are posing problems due to debris deposit on roads in many areas of the country.

Tropical Depression #2 is expected to produce more rainfall to an already saturated St. Vincent and the Grenadines. All response forces have been placed on high alert throughout the country.

H. Prince

NDC/SVG