Reunion Island

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Sunday 7 september 2008 31/12

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Reunion Island

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- > Plan Acontecimientos Meteorológicos Peligrosos
- > Plan Evénements Météorologiques Dangeureux

“Dangerous Meteorological Conditions” Plan

The “dangerous meteorological conditions” plan has substituted for the “heavy rain emergency” plan of 1991, as the previous one did not highlight the strong winds, thunderstorms and the maritime events such as heavy swells. The aim of this plan is to promote the services of Météo-France, and to acquire the same behavioural reflexes of the population as the one acquired by all those who adopted the “cyclone” plan.

Although, the “dangerous meteorological conditions” plan, is distinct from the “cyclone” plan it can be issued at the same time. The plan consists of four types of meteorological events which frequently hit Réunion Island: heavy rainfalls, thunderstorms, strong winds and heavy swells.

Levels and associated units

	Heavy Rainfalls	Thunderstorms	Strong Winds	Heavy Swells
*Levels*	Risk of heavy rainfalls: 20 to 50% Important risk: >50%	Risk of Storms: 20 to 50% Important risk: >50%	Risk of strong winds: From 20 to 50% Important risk: >50%	Only one
*Associated* *Units*	70 mm / 3 hours 100 mm / 6 hours 150 mm / 12 hours 200 mm / 24 hours	None	Gust between 100 and 150 km per hour	Cyclonic swell None Polar or trade winds swell H1/3 > or = 4 meters

Zoning

Heavy Rainfalls, Thunderstorms and Strong Winds	Heavy Swell

The safeguard phase

From the moment that the weather causes or is likely to cause extensive disturbances all over or in some areas of the island, a safeguard phase is issued by the prefect.

So, it’s a crisis management system, which implies a temporary prohibition of driving on all or parts of the road network, or even closing schools in all or in some areas of the island only. These general measures are likely to be applied either entirely across the island or in some of the communes only. Actually, it depends solely on the prefect to decide whether to apply these general measures or not, irrespective of the ones concluded by each mayor on all or some of the territories of one’s commune, in accordance with ones powers true to the commissioner.

General Measures which are likely to be adopted by the prefect during the safeguard phase:

All the schools, day nurseries, kindergartens, youth camps and leisure centres should be closed in all or in some areas of the island only.
All the trunk roads which are dangerous should be closed until further notice. Diversions should be implemented.
The emergency services should implement shelter for people with respiratory insufficiency and those suffering from kidney failure.
The event organisers should consider the possibility of cancellation. Cancelling an event may be decided by the Prefect.
All hiking tracks which are dangerous should be closed until further notice.
The town councils should bustle about setting up cyclone centres.
The town councils should evacuate people from areas which are more at risk of flooding.