APCEDI Alert SP/CI 10P Nisha #2-2010: Cyclone Nisha moves across Southern Cook Islands

The RSMC-Nadi Tropical Cyclone Centre, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre are issuing guidance on Cyclone Nisha, a minimal tropical cyclone that is moving across the Southern Cook Islands.

This system is currently located 85 nautical miles (158 kms) northwest of Rarotonga in the Southern Cook Islands. It is moving east at 15 knots and should roughly keep that course over the next day. Maximum sustained winds are 45 kts making it a weak tropical storm. It should slowly start to weaken into tomorrow.

Citizens and interests in the Southern Cook Islands and French Polynesia should monitor this storm carefully and heed all Government warnings.

WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES

COOK ISLANDS:
THE TROPICAL CYCLONE GALE WARNING PREVIOUSLY IN FORCE FOR RAROTONGA, MAUKE, MANGAIA AND NEARBY ISLANDS IS NOW CANCELLED. A STRONG WIND WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR PALMERSTON AND IS NOW IN FORCE FOR THE REST OF SOUTHERN COOKS.
____________________________________________

Special Weather Bulletin Number TWELVE for Southern Cooks ON TROPICAL
CYCLONE NISHA ISSUED FROM RSMC NADI Jan 29/1246 UTC 2010 UTC.

THE TROPICAL CYCLONE GALE WARNING PREVIOUSLY IN FORCE FOR RAROTONGA, MAUKE, MANGAIA AND NEARBY ISLANDS IS NOW CANCELLED. A STRONG WIND WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR PALMERSTON AND IS NOW IN FORCE FOR THE REST OF SOUTHERN COOKS.

TROPICAL DEPRESSION 06F [EX-TC NISHA] [997HPA] CENTRE LOCATED NEAR 20 DECIMAL 3 SOUTH 161 DECIMAL 1 WEST OR ABOUT 85 NAUTICAL MILES NORTHWEST OF RAROTONGA OR ABOUT 110 NAUTICAL MILES SOUTHWEST OF AITUTAKI AT 291200 UTC. 06F IS CURRENTLY MOVING EAST AT 15 KNOTS. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED 10-MINUTE AVERAGE WINDS CLOSE TO THE CENTRE ESTIMATED AT 30 KNOTS WITH MOMENTARY GUSTS TO 45 KNOTS DECREASING FURTHER IN THE IN THE NEXT 6 TO 12 HOURS.

ON THIS TRACK, O6F IS NOT EXPECTED TO CAUSE GALES OVER RAROTONGA,MAUKE, MANGAIA AND NEARBY ISLANDS.

FOR THE SOUTHERN COOKS:
CLOCKWISE WINDS 30 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 45 KNOTS DECREASING FURTHER. PERIODS OF RAIN AND A FEW SQUALLY THUNDERSTORMS. ROUGH SEAS. HEAVYWEST TO NORTHWEST SWELLS. FLOODING INCLUDING SEA FLOODING OF LOW-LYING COASTAL AREAS STILL LIKELY.

PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF THIS MESSAGE.

THIS WILL BE THE FINAL SPECIAL WEATHER BULLETIN FOR THE SOUTHERN COOK ISLANDS AND THE NEXT ISSUE WILL BE THE ROUTINE BULLETIN AT 291530UTC.

APCEDI will continue to monitor the progress of this system, although this will likely be the last APCEDI Alert for this minimal system as it passes into the Southern Ocean.

Please go to http://www.afap.org/apcedi/ for the complete interactive alert on Cyclone Nisha.
________________________________________
Kevin Vang
APCEDI Coordinator

To donate to AFAP's Disaster Preparedness, Relief and Rehabilitation Programs in Asia and the Pacific, go to http://www.afap.org and click on the "Donate On-Line" icon in the top right-hand corner.

To sign up for AFAP's free APCEDI email service, please go to http://www.afap.org/apcedi/ and register your email address.

APCEDI Alert SP/CI 10P Nisha #1-2010: Cyclone Nisha forms between Samoa and Cook Islands

The RSMC-Nadi Tropical Cyclone Centre, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre are issuing guidance on Cyclone Nisha, a minimal tropical cyclone that has formed between Samoa and the Southern Cook Islands.

This system is currently located 232 nautical miles (430 kms) northwest of Rarotonga in the Southern Cook Islands. It is moving southeast at 15 knots and is expected to turn more easterly tomorrow. Maximum sustained winds are 45 kts making it a weak tropical storm. It should slowly strengthen into tomorrow and may approach Category 1 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale.

A Tropical Cyclone Warning has been raised for Palmerston Island in the Southern Cooks and and Cyclone Alert is in effect for the rest of the Cook Islands. Palmerston is one of the most remote of the Cook Islands with a population of about 50 people.

Citizens and interests in the Southern Cook Islands should monitor this storm carefully and heed all Government warnings. Citizens and interests in Samoa, American Samoa, Wallis and Futuna and Niue should continue to be vigilant as the storm moves away.

WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES

COOK ISLANDS:
A TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR PALMERSTON ISLAND
AND IS NOW IN FORCE FOR THE REST OF THE SOUTHERN COOK ISLANDS.

NIUE:
A STRONG WIND WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR NIUE WATERS.

WALLIS AND FUTUNA
A STRONG WIND WARNING PREVIOUSLY IN FORCE FOR LAND AREA IS NOW
CANCELLED BUT REMAINS IN FORCE FOR WATERS OF WALLIS AND FUTUNA.

SAMOA
FLOOD ADVISORY
STRONG WIND ADVISORY
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Special Weather Bulletin Number FIVE for Southern Cooks ON TROPICAL CYCLONE NISHA ISSUED FROM RSMC NADI Jan 28/1251 UTC 2010 UTC.

TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING

A TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR PALMERSTON ISLAND AND IS NOW IN FORCE FOR THE REST OF THE SOUTHERN COOK ISLANDS.

TROPICAL CYCLONE NISHA 06F [990HPA] CENTRE WAS LOCATED NEAR 19 DECIMAL 6 SOUTH 164 DECIMAL 6 WEST AT 281200 UTC OR ABOUT 120 NAUTICAL MILES SOUTHWEST OF PALMERSTON OR ABOUT 290 NAUTICAL MILES WEST-NORTHWEST OF RAROTONGA. CYCLONE IS CURRENTLY MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 18 KNOTS BUT EXPECTED TO GRADUALLY TURN EAST IN THE NEXT 18 TO 24 HOURS. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED 10-MINUTE AVERAGE WINDS CLOSE TO THE CENTRE ESTIMATED AT 40 KNOTS. CYCLONE INTENSITY REMAINS THE SAME.

ON THIS TRACK, THE CYCLONE IS EXPECTED TO LIE ABOUT 110 MILES TO THE SOUTHWEST OF PALMERSTON OR ABOUT 280 NAUTICAL MILES TO THE WEST-NORTHWEST OF RAROTONGA AT 28/1800 UTC AND ABOUT 140 NAUTICAL MILES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF PALMERSTON OR 150 NAUTICAL MILES WEST-NORTHWEST OF RAROTONGA AT 29/0900 UTC.

IF THE CYCLONE MAINTAINS THIS TRACK, IT IS EXPECTED TO BRING DAMAGING GALE FORCE WINDS OR STRONGER OVER PALMERSTON THIS MORNING AND THE REST OF THE SOUTHERN COOK ISLANDS LATER DURING THE DAY. DAMAGING OR DESTRUCTIVE WINDS WILL BEGIN A FEW HOURS BEFORE THE CENTRE MOVES OVERHEAD OR NEABY.

FOR PALMERSTON AND THE REST OF THE SOUTHERN COOKS: EAST TO NORTHEAST WINDS INCREASING TO DAMAGING GALE FORCE WITH AVERAGE SPEEDS OF 35 TO 45 KNOTS AND MOMENTARY GUSTS TO 65 KNOTS FROM EARLY THIS MORNING FOR PALMERSTON AND LATER DURING THE DAY FOR THE REST OF THE SOUTHERN COOKS. FREQUENT HEAVY RAIN AND SQUALLY THUNDERSTORMS. VERY ROUGH TO HIGH SEAS. DAMAGING HEAVY NORTHWEST SWELLS. FLOODING INCLUDING SEA FLOODING OF LOW-LYING COASTAL AREAS EXPECTED.

PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF THIS MESSAGE.

The next Special Weather Bulletin for the Southern Cook Islands will
be issued at 281530 UTC.

APCEDI will continue to monitor the progress of this system, although this will likely be the last APCEDI Alert for this minimal system as it passes into the Southern Ocean.

Please go to http://www.afap.org/apcedi/ for the complete interactive alert on Cyclone Nisha.
________________________________________
Kevin Vang
APCEDI Coordinator

To donate to AFAP's Disaster Preparedness, Relief and Rehabilitation Programs in Asia and the Pacific, go to http://www.afap.org and click on the "Donate On-Line" icon in the top right-hand corner.

To sign up for AFAP's free APCEDI email service, please go to http://www.afap.org/apcedi/ and register your email address.

APCEDI Update 2: Solomons Earthquake, January 2010

This is an update on the 4th January earthquake from the Solomons Islands Department of Home and Cultural Affairs:

Situation Report No. 8, Friday 15th January 2010


1. Situation

Two earthquakes (6.5 and 7.2) struck near Rendova and Tetepare Islands, some 88km SSE of Gizo, in Western Province on Monday 4th January 2010. The 7.2 one generated a tsunami to hit the southern and northern coast of the island and nearby Tetepare. The area of interest is between Hopongo, Mbaniata and Retavo in the south and Rano in the north.
An aftershock of 6.9 on Tuesday night, 5th January, affected Marovo lagoon.


2. Scope and Scale

Population affected: 4995; total households, 627; 267 house-holds affected vis 242 families.

3. Response by Different Partners:

a. NDOC:
• Silas Arukwai, Western Provincial Disaster Officer, and George Baragamu of NDMO are still manning the PEOC in Mund: telephone 62306, Fax: 62307.

b. Health:
• Medical and Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) are addressing WASH and WATSAN.

c. SIRC:
• Already installed its water purification system at Mbaniata
• 1 canoe and outboard motor
• Supporting relief distribution through personnel.

d. NGOs:
• Save the Children is waiting to act on the recovery/shelter plans.
• World Vision supporting with 1 boat and 40HP OBM , personnel to distribute relief.
• Oxfam supporting with 1 OBM, canoe and personnel to distribute relief.
• UNICEF erected three tents at Mbaniata to support medical issues and also a classroom.
• ADRA deployed personnel to address water issues; hired two boats: a barge and a boat to support distributions.
• Private Business – Kenny Wong donated $200.00

e. International Assistance:
• Donations from the Australian and US Governments have been reported in the media and NDMO will acknowledge the amounts once the information is received for reporting/recording purposes.

• The US Government has donated US$75,000 to support SIRC in its relief and other support

• The Republic of China on Taiwan has pledged to donate $300,000 through the media Wednesday 13th

• SOPAC will send its geologist next week.
• Georgia Institute of Technology – USA: Technical assessment of tsunami run-up and possible uplift to reefs in Rendova

f. Assets deployed:
Government Departments in Munda:

• Malaria – 1 40HP OBM and 1 canoe to assist with distributions
• Health – 1 75HP OBM and 1 canoe
• SIRC – 1 40HP OBM and 1 canoe
• Oxfam – 1 40HP OBM and 1 canoe
• ADRA – 1 barge; 1 aluminum canoe and OBM

g. Proposed Plans:
• Recovery and shelter recovery plans expected to be ready very soon.

h. Deployed teams:
Multi sectoral teams/distributing to affected communities. Distributions to Retavo, Havila and Mbaniata completed today. Other villages this weekend and early next week.

i. Update:
• 7 water tanks didn’t go on PPF barge Tuesday 12 and awaiting shipment to Munda as soon as a ship is available.
• A total of 233 bags of rice (122 20kg and 109 10kg); 262 water containers; 188 tarpaulins were distributed to Retavo, Havila and Mbaniata today. WASH and WATSAN will be done by Helena Goldie Hospital .
• (Retavo, pop: 6 houses, 6 tarps; 71 water containers; 4 20kg rice and 5 10kg rice. Havila, pop: 49 houses; 49 tarps; 71 water containers; 32 20kg rice; 30 10kg rice. Mbaniata, pop: 133 houses;133 tarps; 181 water containers; 86 20kg rice; 74 10kg rice.
The following acknowledgement is going out to the media for promotion:

From
NATIONAL EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTRE (NEOC) VAVAYA RIDGE

To the National Government, Donors, NGOs, SIRC, RSIPF, RAMSI, Business houses and key partners of the National Disaster Management Office, who have contributed and support the emergency relief efforts of communities in Rendova, who have been affected by the recent January 4th earthquake and Tsunami.

Contributions and Support towards the emergency relief for Rendova communities to date.
(Will be updated as confirmation of support comes through)

ORGANISATION CONTRIBUTIONS & SUPPORT

Solomon Islands Government $900.000 to cover the following
• Relief - 735(20kg) bags and 357(10kg) bags, water.
• Fuel – Patrol Boat
• Water Tanks and emergency water supply materials - $122,000.00
• Accommodation, food rations for deployed teams

RSIPF
• RSIPV 04 Auki deployment for Munda with relief and assessment team.

• RSIPF personnel

AusAid – Australia Government
• Up to AUD$50,000.00 as support to SIRC & Oxfam to assist NDMO.
• Support to NEOC - $45,000.00 – Upgrading backup generator

NZAID – New Zealand Government
• NZ$50,000.00 support to NDMO, ADRA and SIRC

United State Government
• USD$75,000.00 support to SIRC

PPF/RAMSI
• AUD$25,000.00 logistics air support and SBD$1500.00 food relief
• Helicopter
• Jackpot
• Tier 2
• 20 Bags of rice (10kg)
• 5 Bags of flour(10kg)
• 50 cartons Water (L)
• Personnel

Solomon Islands Red Cross(SIRC)
• 200 Collapsible water containers
• 50 boxes Family kits
• OBM and Canoe
• Personnel

Oxfam
• 396 Tarpaulins
• 400 collapsible water containers
• Personnel

World Vision Solomon Islands
• 271 Tarpaulins
• Provision of fast craft to assist in relief distribution and assessment & Personnel

Save the Children Australia
• Personnel
• Establishment and support to temporary classroom for affected schools

Adventist development and Relief Agency(ADRA)
• Ray boat
• OBM Yamaha
• Fuel containers
• Stainless steel water tanks (1.5m x 1.5m)
• Fibre glass tanks (1.5 mx 1.5m)
• Rolls of poly pipe (20m)
• Bags of cement
• Boxes of fittings
• Lengths of 50mm steel pipe (12 x 3.0m)
• Bundles of steel pipes
• Bundles of tools
• Tarpaulins (small packages)
• Small gas stove
• Cartons of soap
• Personnel

UNICEF
• Total support of USD$4927.82 for the following:
• Tent for temporary clinic
• Tent for temporary school building
• Water purification tablets
• Oral rehydration soap
• Basic health kit
• Personnel

UNDP
• Personnel

Our Telekom
• Telecommunications for Provincial Emergency Operation centre – Landline

Kenny Wong
• Money Donation - $200.00

Georgia Institute of Technology - USA
• Technical assessment of tsunami run-up and possible uplift to reefs in Rendova

SOPAC – South Pacific Geosciences Commission
• Technical Assessment of landslide impacted areas. Identifying and mapping out of high risk areas


The National Disaster Council wish to acknowledge the contributions and support rendered during the earthquake/Tsunami in Rendova Island in the Western Province. NDC appreciates the coordination and integration of all our partner agencies during the emergency response.

The recognition and support of the role of NDMO in implementing all its activities during the emergency relief is through your contributions which have enabled us to achieve coordinating the emergency relief to the affected communities.

NDC kindly thanked all of you for working in partnership with the NDMO in the emergency relief efforts and your continuous assistance to implement the recovery activities.

________________________________
Kevin Vang
APCEDI Coordinator

For the full interactive APCEDI Alerts go to: http://www.afap.org/apcedi/

To donate to AFAP's Disaster Preparedness, Relief and Rehabilitation Programs in Asia and the Pacific, go to http://www.afap.org and click on the "Donate On-Line" icon in the top right-hand corner.

To sign up for AFAP's free APCEDI email service, please go to http://www.afap.org/apcedi/ and register your email address.

APCEDI Update 1: Solomons Earthquake, January 2010

This is an update on the 4th January earthquake from the Solomons Islands Department of Home and Cultural Affairs:

Department of Home and Cultural Affairs

PO Box G11
Honiara
Solomon Islands
Phone: (677) 27936, Mobile: 95895
Fax: (677)-24293
e-mail : ndc@solomon.com.sb Ref:ndmo04/01/02

Situation Report No.3, Tuesday 5th January 2010

1. Situation

Two earthquakes (6.5 and 7.2) struck near Rendova and Tetepare Islands, some 88km SSE of Gizo, in Western Province on Monday 4th January 2010. Earlier reports that Marovo lagoon lost 500 houses were not correct. The generated tsunami struck the southern and northern side of Rendova. Retavo village in north Rendova got washed away. Baniata village north Rendova reported 1 injury; 16 houses destroyed and 60 houses damaged by waves. 1 house was damaged at Rano, south Rendova. The population of Rendova in the 1999 census was around 3370.


2. Scope and scale

Area of operation is between Lokuru, Baniata, Rano and Retavo on the northern and southern side of Rendova Island, including Tetepare Island. Dwelling houses, livelihoods have been damaged. A full extent of the damages and areas affected are expected tomorrow afternoon when the assessment team is on the ground.
4 houses damaged bungalows reported at Tetepare; the 10 expats on the island have been evacuated to nearby Munda. Some had minor injuries.
8 dwelling houses at Rano village were damaged; 1 man had a broken leg and the water source was damaged by landslides.


3. Response by different partners:

a. Government:
• 200 bags of rice, 100 cartons of water

b. Police
• Dispatched another helicopter flight this morning to the SW side of Rendova which some reports claim was also affected by the waves.
• The four officers – two police and two NDMO staff – who traveled by helicopter yesterday are now at Noro awaiting the Patrol Boat to travel to Rendova and Tetepare.
• Patrol Boat Auki left Honiara last night at 11 o’clock and headed to Noro port where an operation centre has been set up. However, because the extent of damages is limited to Rendova and Tetepare, the forward command base has moved to Munda. The boat is expected to arrive at Noro at 1500 today.

c. NDOC
George Baragamu and Brian Tom as well as Silas Arukwai the designated Western Provincial Disaster Officer are members of a multi-sectoral assessment team.

d. Health
Medical patients around Rendova are subjected to Helena Goldie hospital. Helena is the Health centre for areas around Rendova island. A rural health centre at Ughele is not reliable as it runs out of drugs often. Lokuru, Baniata and Hopongo area posts are OK but sometimes experience drug shortages.

e. SIRC:
Donated 200 collapsible water containers and 50 boxes of family kits. It’s also sent a team from Gizo to join the assessment. Its Disaster Coordination officer is among the team that traveled by Patrol boat last night.

f. NGOs:
Save the Children: will send two members to assist with assessments
ADRA: has discussed about what help it could render
Oxfam: contributed 99 tarpaulins which already left on Patrol Boat Auki last night. Its officer Lorima Tuke joined the assessment team on Patrol Boat Auki last night.
World Vision – a Gizo-based team is traveling to join the assessment team at Munda.
Save the Children – two of its officer will assist with assessments.

g. Assets deployed:
Patrol Boat Auki, Jackpot based at Munda; helicopter, Tier 2

h. Proposed Plans:
None until the extent of damages is ascertained.

i. Deployed teams:
14 members comprising of NDMO, Provincial Disaster Committee, Police, SIRC, Oxfam, Save the Children Australia, World Vision, Education and Health

j. Update:

i. Another helicopter flew over Hopongo in the south western end of Rendova following reports the area has also been affected.

ii. Patrol Boat Lata and Auki have reached Noro port at 1500 today. They were to pick up a 14-member assessment team from Noro and take them to Munda where they will spend the night. The team is expected to travel to Rendova by patrol boat, Tier 2 which traveled from Honiara today and now at Munda; banana boat and other canoes tomorrow morning. A police command post originally will move from Noro to Munda.

iii. Reports from the assessment team will be expected later tomorrow, Wednesday 6th January 2010.

iv. The people in the affected areas including other islands in the Province have been issued a second Public Safety Message that they would continue to experience aftershocks for the next two to three days. However, there won’t be another tsunami likely.

v. The Ministry of Education’s Under-Secretary Tim Ngele in a conversation with Barbara Williams of NZAID said there is an existing team of people based in Gizo who are part of a project associated with rebuilding/habilitating schools following the 2007 tsunami. Teams met with the NDMO members from the Police patrol boat Lata in Noro at 4.30 today to initiate an earthquake assessment process. They will be using UNICEF "rapid assessment forms". There is a suggestion that information can be provided in 5 days time. The senior MEHRD person at this meeting will be Dalcy Sito who is the Chief Education Officer of the province. PS Education is currently in the area on holiday and is likely to be involved directly. Tim is acting PS while PS is away. Tim and the Minister met with the Public Service Ministry yesterday and advised this process.

________________________________

Kevin Vang
APCEDI Coordinator

For the full interactive APCEDI Alerts go to: http://www.afap.org/apcedi/

To donate to AFAP's Disaster Preparedness, Relief and Rehabilitation Programs in Asia and the Pacific, go to http://www.afap.org and click on the "Donate On-Line" icon in the top right-hand corner.

To sign up for AFAP's free APCEDI email service, please go to http://www.afap.org/apcedi/ and register your email address.