I decided to create this topic to bring you the best understanding, meaning concerning "the vigilance and cyclonic warning procedures" in the French Islands (Guadeloupe, Martinica and the Northern Leewards: Sint Marteen and St Barth).I've noticied that in many posts (since my debuts here 4 years) that most of the US posters have troubles to "appreciate" our way to be protected in Guadeloupe, Martinica and the Northern Leewards. That's somewhat understandable because of our different story, our status, cultures, etc.
Well well, i hope that these texts should clarify many things and thus, have a positive impact on each other meaning a better way for you especially in the US
to understand our way of life, our way of protect our life. But you understand that a procedure is often never perfect especially if you live in the in the Tropics and it shows always our vulnerable we are against Mother Nature in these small islands. Hurricanes in the past demonstrates us that we have efforts to do...As a conclusion, i will be glad to have answers, nice comments and interresting analysis if possible... always with joy, happiness, enthusiasm no silly criticism. I'm a passionnate of the weather, this topic should (i tkink) help us to share differents cultures, ideas
i'm pretty confident about that my friends 
, thanks to you. Have a good time by reading these texts.Be indulgent with this translator, sometimes some words are missing maybe as french is not so easy
Best regards
Gustywind
The first text is concerning the INSTRUCTIONS TO THE PEOPLE. Here it is
http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.a ... signes.htm Instructions to the people (see also "vigilance and cyclonic warning procedures")
At the beginning of the season cyclone (June)
-Clean close gullies of the House (for a good evacuation of rain) and prune the neighboring trees.
-Store in a shelter plate, plates which may prove dangerous projectiles in high winds.
-Consolidate the House at the level of its issues (doors and Windows). Check and consolidate any roof.
-Make sure the good maintenance of the stormwater evacuation system (channels, gutters,...).
-Create and store in a safe place, a reasonable food long conservation reserve: rice, beans, canned goods, sugar, oil, powdered milk or sterilized, cookies,...
-Plan a reserve of drinking water in sufficient quantity for the family for several days (at least 10 litres per person).
-Store in a place defined and accessible equipment and tools that can be used after a cyclone: axe, saw, nails, hammers, tarpaulins, plywood, phony plastic type jerrycan, mops, buckets,... as well as of bleach.
-Have in a place easily accessible and known to all, a kit of first aid: bandages, alcohol at 70 or 90 °, mercryl, cotton wool, pads, adhesive tape,...
-Plan a radio station portable battery with all batteries, and the means of emergency lighting: flashlights with all batteries, candles, lamp gas or oil with matches, or even generator with fuel reserve.
-Make sure you that you and your friends know the security instructions, that your tetanus and polio vaccinations are up-to-date.
From the onset of phase ORANGE then phase Red
-Remove objects such as plate, plates, cans, likely to be raised and swept away by the wind and become as dangerous projectiles around the House.
-Haubannez the light boxes and awnings: ropes or cables, blocks of stone, piles...
-In homes not attached to the ground (boxes or caravans) which will be evacuated for confirmation of the threat, have on the floor of heavy objects such as stone blocks to increase adhesion. Consolidate, eventually, the doors and Windows by panels wood nailed if there are no components; strengthen, attaching, hooks and crémones.
-Protect the glazed with sheets of plywood (more than 5 mm thick) placed outdoors. Otherwise, place on both sides, diagonal and median, wide adhesive paper strips that will avoid projections of breakage of glass in the event of impact with objects carried by the wind.
-Organize, if this has not been already done earlier, your survival by storing food and various materials (FC instructions of prior season).
-Start to disassemble the television antennas, or even external radio.
-Make refuelled the vehicle, but avoid to undertake long movements.
-Unplug the rain water tank filling system and protect the tank if necessary.
-Go to shelter animals: cattle, poultry and that dogs, cats,...
-Put personal documents (identity papers, book of vaccination, including blood group card) in a safe place, out of reach of water, food, pharmacy and other Kit.
-Stay to listen to the information programmes broadcast by television and radio (RFO and RCI including) channels.
Specific instructions for sailors, fishermen and boaters:
-Follow the information put in place by the captaincy and the municipalities.
-Set cover all fishing equipment, and possibly your small craft.
-Stay to listen to frequencies of emergency and of weather to reach Earth and harbours protected in case of confirmation of the threat.
Specific instructions for merchants and companies:
-Place the food value, beyond the reach of the water and perishable.
-Dismantle the aerial facilities, scaffolding; put the Weathervane atop the building cranes, or unmount them if possible.
When the phase red and violet if applicable
-Reclaim your home and gather as much as possible all of the members of the family. Once in the homes and shelters, no longer circulate.
-If the home is not a solid construction, or if it is placed in a zone at risk (flood or storm tide), win a safe shelter reported by municipal services, the firefighters relief centres, the national police or the gendarmerie.
-In case of accommodation in one of these established shelters available by the municipality, or for friends or families, made known this choice to neighbours or family and keep.
-Unmount the television antennas if this has not been done and disconnect them.
-If this has not yet been done, protect the Bay Windows, close then firmly all the issues
-Stay tuned for emissions of radio, RFO and RCI, to hear the releases of the authorities, the weather....
DURING the PASSAGE of the cyclone
-Listen to the radio, which you will be informed of the evolution of the cyclone programmes.
-Careful, a relative lull of the conditions does not necessarily mean improvement (example: passage of the eye the territory must not be releasing the vigilance of everyone and does absolutely not exit).
-Don't leave your shelter under any pretext, to the end of the cyclone alert, or at least the organizational phase relief broadcast by radio. Travel and the movement of vehicles is strictly prohibited.
-Scrupulously follow all instructions that may then be announced.
-Be able to proceed with the work of consolidation of the doors and Windows of the House or apartment, if necessary.
-Turn off the electrical power of the network; move you to the Bay Windows.
After the PASSAGE of the cyclone, once the allowable output
-Until the end of alert (green vigilance) is not broadcast, stay in the immediate vicinity of your home; do not take your vehicle and not clutter the likely road networks to be still used by the emergency services, or not yet released.
-If you are injured or ill, warn or prevent emergency medical teams (doctors, firefighters, the nearest relief centre,...).
-Follow to a recognition of the immediate vicinity of your home. Report any injuries or possible casualties among your relatives and neighbours to the emergency services (police, mounted police, firefighters,...).
-Help response teams to the release of routes and traffic lanes.
-Gather in one place the dead animal possible (dogs, cats, livestock, poultry,...) so that the services concerned are the evacuation and treatment of carcasses.
-Even in the phase of return to the Green vigilance, avoid travel by vehicle and when they are needed, drive with caution.
-Do not touch and immediately report the electrical wires severed and fell to the ground.
-Follow the housing emergency repairs if it has suffered.
Food:
Never drink the water of the tank, or the water of the distribution network, information on this subject will be broadcast by the radio and television. In the meantime, use drinking mineral water in reserve.
In an emergency, if you have no drinking water in the bottle, two solutions are available to you:
-do boil water for 10 minutes and then the "fight" for the réoxygéner;
-Add 3 drops of bleach reconstituted per litre of water that you have filtered, stir and let stand for at least 30 minutes.
For prolonged power cut, do not eat food remained too long in the refrigerator or freezer.
This second text is about the "PROCEDURE OF DANGEROUS WEATHER" in the West Indies-Guyana.
http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.a ... ilance.htmThe procedure of vigilance "dangerous time" in the West Indies-Guyana
Under the auspices of the world Organization of meteorology (WMO) and to protect the populations, particularly in the less well equipped countries, world regions subject to tropical cyclones are grouped to implement warning systems.
In the Caribbean region / Central America, the Committee of the hurricanes composed of all States members of the WMO, has adopted a plan of operations relating to hurricane, updated and completed each year. This plan recommends that the countries of the zone in implementing alert systems to prevent the populations of the next arrival of cyclones. It is in this context that is is implemented in our Caribbean of Plans specialized emergency Cyclone (PSUC) departments, sometimes known also as the incorrect Plan ORSEC Cyclone, which define the responsibilities for observation of phenomena, forecast, opinion, actions and determine the different communications to disseminate the population according to the risk incurred.
In Martinique and Guadeloupe, this Plan gradually fed during the last 20 years of the different experiences of threat or passage of cyclones on our islands: DAVID in 1979, HUGO in 1989, CINDY in 1993, DEBBY in 1994, IRIS then successively LUIS and MARILYN in the year 1995, GEORGES in 1998, JOSE and LENNY in 1999, JEANNE and IVAN in 2004each of these phenomena with a singular behaviour.
Since 2006 in the Caribbean, the VIGILANCE weather procedure is in effect, as well for these hazards due to tropical cyclones, but also for conventional weather risk (heavy rains, rough seas, etc...) now.
From late 2007 in Guiana also, this procedure was adopted (and adapted to the phenomena of this Department) for the dangers due to the risk of dangerous coastal sea and rains.
VIGILANCE yellow : "Be careful!"
CYCLONE: a disruption of cyclonic type (tropical storm or hurricane) can represent a threat to the territory, due still distant or vague, or earliest maturity but with limited impact (moderate impact) in the territory.
OUTSIDE CYCLONE: A danger of heavy rain (with or without storms) is close or started. or a danger due to the very sustained alizé wind known sometimes is planned or underway; or a risk of dangerous sea (strong and powerful wave breaking on the coasts, or rough seas due to local wind hazard) is scheduled or started.
-To keep it informed of the evolution from weather-France, media, news of the Prefecture, etc.
-In the case of a dangerous sea, do not proceed to sea without particular duty, avoid activities at risk on the beaches and coasts
-In the case of risk of rains: avoid to undertake walks in the mountains or near streams, and usually areas at risk from the occurrence of weather...
-In case of approaching cyclone, check (or complete if necessary):
State of the supply of drinking water (many bottles of mineral water) and food (dry foods and canned food, etc.), and especially for babies and impaired persons. Think that if a cyclone devastates the territory, there is more power for many days, and therefore more refrigerators, freezers, etc...
* the State of cells and batteries, particularly for radio (for listening to news releases of the authorities, the weather,...)
VIGILANCE ORANGE : "Get ready!"
CYCLONE: a tropical cyclone (tropical storm or hurricane) represents a possible hazard with impact awaited term still somewhat remote and therefore with even a slight vagueness, or a very probable danger close deadline but with limited impact (moderate impact) in the territory.
OUTSIDE CYCLONE: Danger of very heavy rain (with or without thunderstorms) began or is imminent. or a particular hazard due to the very sustained alizé wind known sometimes is planned or underway; or a risk of dangerous sea (strong and powerful wave breaking on the coasts, or rough seas due to local wind hazard) is planned or begins.
-To keep it informed in continuous evolution of the weather situation with weather-France, media, press releases of the Prefecture, etc.
-In the case of a dangerous sea, do not take the Sea (under no pretext), avoid proximity to beaches where breaking rollers; protect its nautical vessels.
-In the case of risk of rains: avoid to undertake walks in the mountains or near streams, and usually areas at risk from the occurrence of weather... Avoid any imperative output even in urban areas.
-In case of approaching cyclone, check again if necessary (or complete if necessary to take several days in "survival" mode):
State of the supply of drinking water (many bottles of mineral water) and food (dry foods and canned food for babies, etc.). Attention to food in freezers, electricity likely to be cut at length.
* the State of cells and batteries, particularly for radio (for listening to news releases of the authorities, the weather,...).
* suggest to perform full of fuel for your vehicles, to protect your personal documents (paper), and to carry cash (distributors may then be inoperative, purchases by bankcard difficult...).
* prepare housing (think of storing what can become projectiles when the wind will blow), begin to build doors and Windows (parts, plywood, ribbons scotch on the glazed), put out of water (if location at risk of flooding) objects, sensitive furniture...
VIGILANCE red : "Protect yourself"!
CYCLONE: a tropical cyclone (tropical storm or hurricane) represents a very probable danger due reconciled with relatively strong effects (strong enough impact to fort), or to a little more distant deadline but with intense impact (major, violent cyclone) in the territory.
OUTSIDE CYCLONE: Danger of very heavy rain (with or without thunderstorms) began and its effects become serious (widespread floods, risks of landslides, rockfalls,...); or a danger of exceptionally dangerous sea (strong and powerful wave breaking on the coastline and capable of destroying piers, beaches, flooding coastal roads) is scheduled or started.
-Stay to listen to the weather situation with weather-France, media, and especially the Prefecture releases, etc.
-In the case of a dangerous sea, do not take the Sea (under no pretext), did not attend the beach or shoreline where breaking rollers; protect its nautical vessels.
-In the case of risk of rains: avoid any exit and protect yourself. Avoid including mountainous areas (landslides, mounted abrupt of streams), and the areas usually at risk from the occurrence of weather... Avoid imperative as any output even in urban areas.
-In case of approach of cyclone:
* Join his home soon (or shelter duly reported by town halls) and finally to protect (at the level of openings). think to unmount the external antennas and satellite dishes.
* Remove or stow the outdoor objects, so that they become dangerous projectiles.
* Return the animals.
* Prepare the exhibit the most secure for the whole family if necessary; allocate means of emergency lighting (candles, batteries torches,...).
* In General, avoid any movement and facilitate the work of teams of mayors...
ONLY in the case of CYCLONE TROPICAL VIOLENT to crack down on the territory,
2 other colours have been included in this procedure
VIGILANCE violet (purple): "Confine you, do not exit!"
Intense tropical cyclone (hurricane major) represents imminent danger for part or all of the territory, its impact is very important.
-Stay to listen to the weather conditions, weather-France, media, press releases of the Prefecture, etc.
-Stay calm (no panic) and shelter; strengthen, if necessary, the doors in the dwelling; away openings (be confined in the safest room).
-Do not use the phone unless absolutely necessary.
-A period of relative calm weather can occur just after conditions very violent: do not, because it is likely the passage of the eye of the hurricane, tracking closely by intense and severe conditions.
-Wait the instructions of the authorities to move.
-In General, do not go out and do circulate under any pretext (because of the extreme danger, and under penalty of criminal prosecution) also...
VIGILANCE grey: "Stay cautious!"
A tropical cyclone crossed the territory, with damage. Even if weather conditions are being improved, is still a danger (floods, flows of mud, electric wires to the ground, cut roads,...). Clearing and relief teams need to start working without be hampered in their movement and their activities.
-Continue to be listening to the news of the Prefecture, media, weather conditions, etc. Expected general instructions of the authorities.
-Avoid out, do not interfere with the teams of rescue and clearing; but away points lower and courses of dangerous water, without having to cross Fords, gullies and ditches submerged.
-Clean up if necessary your home, but without touching the fallen to the ground wire...
-Assist its neighbors if necessary, prevent relief where appropriate.
-Avoid the use of phones except absolute necessity (congestion in networks, teams of priority assistance,...).
-Use your vehicle only when compelling necessity, and in this case, drive with extreme caution...
-Check the quality of water drinking...
Green VIGILANCE: "More significant dangers or hazards away!"
CYCLONE: the dangers inherent in the passage of a tropical cyclone away permanently, that the cyclone has interested or not the territory. This corresponds to the gradual return to a more normal weather conditions... If this phase is announced by a passage of cyclone that caused significant, damage remain sufficiently cautious, the territory with probably not recovered yet the integrity of its operation, some networks (roads, water, electricity) that can be cut even momentarily, rivers and ditches still crowded...
OUTSIDE CYCLONE: The danger of heavy rain (with or without storms), or strong wind, or dangerous sea, decreases and is more likely to be a significant danger.
May that "rising power" phases of the procedure, the disturbance is declining or away without causing damage: green color can then be issued as soon as weather conditions were more likely to get worse.
One thing for sure... well above of this thread friendly connection can be realized