WASHINGTON, D.C., The Peace Corps continues its efforts to ensure the safety of its volunteers serving in Haiti, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and the Eastern Caribbean, which includes the islands of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The storm is not expected to impact all islands in the Eastern Caribbean.

"The Peace Corps is taking every precautionary measure to ensure the safety of the volunteers serving in the areas that have been impacted and are in the potential path of Hurricane Ivan," said Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez. "All volunteers serving in the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica have been contacted and are in their designated safe houses."

Prior to Hurricane Ivan’s arrival in Grenada, all 23 volunteers were securely situated at the five designated safe house locations. As of this morning, 20 of those volunteers have been contacted and are unharmed. The storms impact on Grenada’s communication facilities has hampered the Peace Corps’ ability to make contact with three volunteers in the northern most section of the island. The Peace Corps country director and staff in the region are currently en route to the safe house located in that area to make contact with the remaining three volunteers.

"The Peace Corps has no reason to believe the volunteers at the safe house in northern Grenada have been harmed in anyway," stated Director Vasquez. "We can confirm that they were at their safe house prior to the storm, and the only reason they haven’t been contacted is that communication on the island has been minimal."

The emergency operations center at the Peace Corps headquarters in Washington D.C. is operational, and staff expects to be notified by the country director in Grenada late this afternoon regarding the status of the volunteers located in the safe house in the northern region of Grenada. Peace Corps staff in Washington D.C. are in constant communication with the staff at post (located on the island of St. Lucia), the State Department, and the Embassy.

In preparation for possible crisis situations and natural disasters, each Peace Corps program has an Emergency Action Plan specific to that country and developed in cooperation with the Embassy and Peace Corps Headquarters in Washington D.C. The plans are tested frequently and information is updated constantly. Volunteers are thoroughly trained in their role and responsibilities in the Emergency Action Plan. Posts are prepared for all emergencies.

Families are encouraged to contact Peace Corps’ Office of Special Services with any questions or concerns they may have. The Office of Special Services maintains a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week duty system. The telephone number during standard office hours is 1-800-424-8580, Extension 1470; the after hours number is 202-638-2574. The Office of Special Services may also be contacted via e-mail at ossdutyofficer@peacecorps.gov.

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