Preparedness and monitoring

The Fiji Red Cross Society Disaster Coordinator reported that Tropical Cyclone Tomas which formed over the northeast of Fiji on Friday (12 March) was officially upgraded to a Category 4 Severe with damaging gale force winds as at this morning.   It continues to move very slowly south lying just East of the dateline (179.4E) and 15.5 South as at 1300hrs today. 

It is expected to be positioned further down South at around 65 kilometers north east of Taveuni by midnight tonight. 

A Tropical Cyclone Warning remains in force for the entire Fiji group.   

The Fiji National Disaster Management Council (DISMAC) is issuing continuous public advisories and several evacuation centres have been opened mainly in the Northern, Central and Eastern Divisions.  Over 5,000 people are occupying evacuation centres.  There has been 1 confirmed cyclone related death.  

Fiji Red Cross Society (FRCS) participated at 2 separate briefings that were organised by DISMAC this morning. The 1^st meeting was with donors and international partners and the 2^nd was with the Prime Minister.  At both meetings, FRCS provided updates regarding its preparedness and monitoring status at all its 15 branches. In particular, its emergency communications arrangements (satellite phones and high frequency radios – between Vanua Levu and Viti Levu) already setup, security of disaster preparedness containers and volunteers already on standby at all branch locations. 

Standby teams at its National Office in Suva and at 2 Divisional Service Centres (Labasa and Lautoka) have completed final preparations of branches and their Emergency Response Teams in particular, the 5 branches in Vanua Levu namely, Taveuni, Bua, Seaqaqa, Savusavu and Labasa and are on 24 hours standby.

• Red Cross volunteers in Vanua Levu and neaby islands have been working with the Police assisting in evacuation assistance particularly the transportation of the disabled, old and the sick to hospitals and nearby evacuation centres.
  
• Regular reports are being circulated between FRCS branches and their respective EOCs including information about evacuation centres and damage sustained so far.
  
• Emergency communications contingency plan for Vanua Levu and surrounding islands (pre-positioned Satellite phones and high frequency radios) in place.
  
• The National Office maintains frequent communications with the NEOC and laterally other key response agencies.
  
• National Office is also maintaining links with the Federation Regional Delegation in Suva and neighboring National Societies in New Zealand and Australia.