Government of the Federated States of Micronesia

Tropical Storm warning

POHNPEI, Palikir (FSM Information Service): December 13, 2001 –
On December 13 2001, President Leo A. Falcam has ordered the offices of the
National Government of the Federated States of Micronesia in Pohnpei to be
closed until Monday morning due to approaching tropical storm winds.

A tropical storm warning has been in effect for Pohnpei State since
yesterday. The latest reports from the National Weather Services predict
winds of up to 39 miles per hour are heading towards Pohnpei State.

President Falcam called an emergency cabinet meeting this morning to discuss
the course of the tropical storm and its possible effects. He advised all
employees whose responsibilities require them to be on the job to remain at
work, otherwise, all national offices have been ordered to secure their
facilities and shut down their operations effective 12 p.m. today to resume
Monday at 8 a.m.

The latest report received from the National Weather Services in Pohnpei
reads:

TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT,

A tropical storm warning remains in effect for Pohnpei, Mwoakilloa,
Pingelap, Ahnd and Pakihn as of 3am this morning. A tropical storm warning
means damaging winds of 39 miles per hour are possible within the next 24 hours.

Residents of Pohnpei, Mwoakilloa, Pingelap, Ahnd and Pakihn are urged to
prepare for strong winds, heavy rain showers, landslide, hazardous surf and
storm surge. Small crafts should remain in port, power and city water
outage should be expected.

At 3 am, tropical depression 31W was located near Latitude 5.3 degrees North
and Longitude 159.2 degrees East or about 130 miles Southeast of Pohnpei, 110
miles Southwest of Mwoakilloaand, 115 miles West-Southwest of Pingelap.

Tropical Depression 31W is moving North at 7 miles per hour. It is expected
to continue moving North overnight then begin moving Northwest during the day
on Thursday.

Maximum sustained winds are 35 miles per hour with gust to 45 miles per hour.
The tropical depression is expected to slowly intensify reaching the Tropical
Storm intensity by Thursday morning.