TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS -

One emergency meeting has already been held in Grand Turk this morning, and the country's Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies has determined that two shelters will be opened, that more manpower is required and an immediate assessment of the damages in hardest hit North Caicos and Providenciales are a must.

Government has already determining that they will have to draw money from various TCIG departments to finance a swift clean up and pumping effort to minimize damage and restore the islands with the most severe cases of flooding to normalcy.

The Office Of The Premier - Turks and Caicos Islands explained that the national contingency fund can take care of the mess Tropical Storm Cristobal is making. The storm which has left us now, is dumping as much as 12 inches of rain on islands in northern Turks and Caicos.

No figures given on what kind of money it will take, too early explained the Minister of Health, Hon Porsha Stubbs Smith who flanked the Premier along with the Director of Environmental Health Services, Kenrick Neely.

QUICK ACTION
Perhaps at 3pm, the US Coast Guard may be seen lifting off from Providenciales as it helps the TCI in an air surveillance of North Caicos. At the time of the media debriefing, the US Coast Guard was said to be en route from its base in Inagua.

Premier Ewing said four officials will be flown over; including the Deputy Director of the DDME, a representative from Government Support Services ie Public Works, a representative from Environmental Health and someone from the Turks and Caicos Islands, Governor's Office, perhaps HE Peter Beckingham himself .

Once this assessment is done, and it will also include Provo - there will be a more sound plan for recommendations shared with the media and by extension the general public.

PLENTY OF PUMPS
Health Minister Porsha Stubbs Smith said there are lots of pumps to redirect the flooding from the super-sized puddles of water. During the press conference media learned there are also private partners who will come to aide if necessary. Hon Stubbs Smith's chief warning was to parents, to keep their children from playing in the rain waters as there are serious health hazards.

So far one man is reported dead; speculation is either by drowning or electrocution. He was found in rain water near the down town ball park in Providenciales; an attempt to administer CPR failed to revive the man. The man is a 34 year old resident of Blue Hills, also said to be of North Caicos. We are with holding his name until police give us the okay; his family must first be formally notified.

This type of danger in addition to sewerage seeping into the water, other invisible objects in the murky water which could cause injury and later the threat of mosquitoes and illnesses like Chikungunya and Dengue Fever which can come are real; and the Minister petitioned for proper supervision and adherence to Health warnings.

VOLUNTARY EVACUATIONS
North Caicos saw residents voluntarily evacuate their homes; forced to flee with the inundation of rain water caused by Tropical Storm Cristobal on Sunday.

One of the shelters to be opened is in Kew, North Caicos.

Bottle Creek was also severely affected by the flooding; and those rains have not yet ceased. The forecast calls for the feeder bands of TS Cristobal to keep generating rain until tomorrow. That is almost three days of incessant rain.

AIRPORT NOT SO BAD. DRAINAGE GOOD.
Premier Ewing said flooding will happen; it is unavoidable and that he is satisfied that the drainage in Providenciales is good.

Admittedly his view did take media by surprise, as the current challenges with localized flooding do seem an avoidable predicament. Residents were trapped in vehicles, forced to wade through several feet of water camped right at their doorsteps, were late for work due to an inability to maneuver and vehicles were stalled, submerged even.

It was this localized flooding which shut down Providenciales, as mobility was near impossible for most people resident on the island. Government Offices, private sector companies, schools and other non essential business lost an entire day due to the flooding. It is unclear what will happen tomorrow.

Low lying areas, former ponds and some well below sea level seemed to justify the severity of the flooding in Providenciales. Hon Ewing said the pumps are doing their jobs and working, referencing that even the most developed countries have to contend with flooding during storms.

The airport terminal will eventually have pull down doors to mitigate in times when there is heavy rainfall streaming into the open air area. Water collecting in the terminal did not come from the rainfall, but from areas still under construction according the Premier Ewing.

Mr Premier said he was satisfied with a tour earlier today. That the tour led by Mr John Smith of the TCI Airports Authority revealed what happened and how the parking lot was better for guests than in previous times when guests had to be pushed into the terminal on baggage trolleys.

With the airport expansion still in construction phase, the country's Premier and Tourism Minister shared that there is time to fix and correct any structural problems.

Operations at the airport remain suspended (2:03pm - Aug 25, 2014). The Airports were closed since Sunday August 24, 2014 at 10am.

The shelter opening in Providenciales is at Enid Capron Primary School, Five Cays.

NO ARRESTS - IMMIGRANT AMNESTY
The Premier today announced that his government has extended an amnesty to all individuals illegally residing in Turks and Caicos; they can lodge at any of the two shelters he explained without fear of being arrested.

Another meeting is slated for later today; media will be briefed again following that session.