With the approach of the very intense tropical cyclone Freddy, the authorities are getting organized. The prefect of Reunion announced the entry into force of the orange alert this Sunday, February 19 at 7 p.m. The phenomenon should pass closer to the island on Monday evening.
The very intense tropical cyclone Freddy was 960 km east-northeast of the Reunion coast this Sunday, February 19 at 4 p.m. The phenomenon is approaching at a speed of 26 km/h and should pass closest to Reunion on the evening of Monday February 20, around 10 p.m.
As a result, the prefect of La Réunion has decided to trigger the orange alert for the specific ORSEC Cyclones system. It entered into force this Sunday February 19 at 7 p.m.. Reunion was placed on cyclonic yellow pre-alert since Friday February 17 at 7 p.m.
The change to orange alert means that there is a danger within 24 hours. The very intense tropical cyclone Freddy is due to pass closer to Reunion during the night of Monday to Tuesday, as a result the prefect of Reunion has chosen to trigger the orange alert with a slight anticipation.
A meeting was held in the prefecture on the morning of this Sunday to organize the means.
Cyclone Freddy: the prefect takes stock
All schools, namely schools, colleges and high schools, but also the University of Reunion and nurseries will be closed this Monday, and “presumably tuesday“, given the arrival of the system at the end of the day.
It is for the prefect of Reunion not to take the risk of difficulties in returning students at the end of the day. The rector of the Academy of Reunion indicates that the students and interns remain at home. Interns must not join their boarding school this Sunday evening.
All sites and campuses of the University of La Réunion will be closed from 5 a.m. this Monday, February 20, until further notice, indicates its president.
Economic activity is not interrupted by the orange alert, however employers are invited to take this alert into account and limit the travel of their employees as much as possible.
The prefect of Réunion will provide updated information on Monday morning, “to let you know if we are likely to go on red alert in the evening or overnight from Monday to Tuesday”. Jérôme Filippini specifies that going to orange alert does not “mechanically” lead to going to red alert.
He announces that he is not at this stage, he is not able to say if there will be a passage in red alert or not.
On orange alert, the population must stay informed and prepare for the arrival of the phenomenon.
It is then necessary to bring in objects that the wind could carry away, to bring in animals, to protect doors and windows with shutters or boards. The reserves must also be checked, and constituted for those who would not have done so during the hurricane yellow pre-alert.
It is also recommended to check the addresses and telephone numbers of the accommodation center closest to your home, and prepare for a possible evacuation. In the event of an emergency, the circumstances may indeed require you to evacuate your home, or on the contrary to take shelter there.
Each household must be able to meet its basic needs for a few days, the authorities remind.
The very intense tropical cyclone Freddy continues to approach Reunion. Its closest passage is scheduled for Monday evening, around 10 p.m., about 200 km north of Saint-Denis de La Réunion, according to the preferred scenario.
A margin of uncertainty of nearly 50 km persists, indicated Tarik Kriat, forecaster at Météo France, in the radio newspaper of Réunion the 1st at midday.
The system is particularly compact, its area of influence is therefore reduced to nearly 200 km around its center. If the preferred scenario is confirmed, the deterioration of meteorological conditions will relate more to wind and swell.
Gusts of nearly 100 km / h are possible on the coast and 110 to 130 km / h on the heights. The wind will strengthen during the day on Monday, but more significantly at the end of the day, as will the swell, indicates the forecaster.
An extremely dangerous swell will break on our shores from the end of Monday afternoon. Heavy rains are also possible on the Hauts, and more moderate on the coast.
Given the margin of uncertainty, a passage closer to our island remains possible, but a direct passage is to be excluded, says the director of Météo France. The weather conditions could then be more difficult and the impact more severe. In its center, Freddy currently has maximum gusts estimated at 315 km / h.