• From: webmaster at cdera.org
• Date: 17 Oct 2008 21:02:42 -0000

CDERA Situation Report #2 – Hurricane Omar
As of Thursday October 16, 2008

The Event
Storm surge associated with Hurricane Omar which formed in the Caribbean Sea have resulted in widespread flooding and significant coastal damage in some areas of Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines. There have been no reports of deaths.

Please see attached for details.

Attachment: CDERA%20Situation%20Report%20#2%20-Hurricane%20Omar%20-Storm%20Surge%20Impact.doc
Description: MS-Word document

• From: <webmaster at cdera.org>
• Date: 16 Oct 2008 19:43:09 -0000

Bridgetown, Barbados October 16, 2008 (CDERA)-  Late yesterday, October 15, into this morning Thursday, October 16, 2008, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands(BVI), Montserrat, Saint Kitts & Nevis and were impacted by a Category Three Hurricane Omar.

At 11:00am AST today, the centre of Hurricane Omar was situated at latitude 20.2 north, longitude 61.3 west, or about 180 miles (290 km) north east of the Northern Leeward Islands. All warnings for St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, Montserrat and BVI have been discontinued.

Omar is expected to produce additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches with a maximum of 6 inches over portions of the region from Antigua southwards to Martinique.

THE SITUATION:
Anguilla: An all clear was issued at 8:00am this morning by the Department of Disaster Management (DDM). Air and sea ports remain closed due to minor flooding and rough seas respectively; however the Airport is scheduled for re-opening later today.

The Department’s preliminary report indicates minor damage to the island with some roof damage to two hotels, severe beach erosion, downed trees and utility poles. Three cargo ships and seven boats have run around while two boats have sunk.

A Damage Assessment Needs Analysis (DANA) team is reviewing the damage and debris clearance teams are already clearing roads.

There was loss of electricity in parts of the island. The DDM reports that 95 % of the island’s electricity supply will be restored within 72 hours. Mobile phones remain operational and there have been some reports of land line outage due to downed poles.

Antigua & Barbuda
The National Office of Disaster Services in Antigua has reported that there is widespread flooding across the island which is making some roads impassable. Damage assessments are currently being carried out.

Preliminary assessment indicates some damage to roads; minimal wind damage and some fallen trees. Coordinators in three districts have been advised to open shelters and the public has been advised to remain indoors.

Rescue operations are ongoing for residents in low lying areas.

British Virgin Island:
At 5:00am this morning, the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) issued the “All Clear” for the Territory. The Airport will resume full operation by 2pm today.
No damage has been reported to the water supplies.

The NEOC’s preliminary damage assessment indicate there the have been some minimal damage to the island, some minor flooding, rock fall and broken trees.  A full damage assessment is now being conducted.

The Deputy Governor has issued a statement advising residents to remain off the roads to allow for the assessment to be carried out and for road clearance and the restoration of critical services.  He has advised that the NEOC will remain activated throughout the day and will stand down at 5:00pm today.

Montserrat: The Disaster Management Coordination Agency is reporting that the island continues to be affected by rains. An Assessment Team is currently carrying out preliminary damage assessments. So far only minimal damage has been reported. Telephone and electricity supplies have suffered no damage. Schools remain closed.

Minor landslides have been reported in some areas due mainly to excessive rainfall. These have now been cleared by Public Works. There is concern that there could be additional landslides due to the high level of saturation and the continuing rainfall.
The Governor met with the National Disaster Preparedness and Advisory Committee on Wednesday (Oct. 15) and residents of Zone B were evacuated due to their proximity to Belham River which is prone to Lahars as well as the possibility of a dome collapse at the Soufriere Hills Volcano.

St. Kitts and Nevis:
In St. Kitts, there are reports of blocked roads and minor damage to homes. Initial reports indicate that there is no electricity due to downed power lines. There is some damage to St. Christopher Sea Port and severe beach erosion along the western coastline and Frigate Bay.

The R.L. Bradshaw International Airport was expected to reopen at noon on Thursday Oct 16.

On Nevis: The pier at Qualie Beach was destroyed and two passenger vessels reportedly ran aground and sustained severe damage. The electricity supply is reportedly off due to downed power lines and  there are blocked roads.

Damage assessment teams and clean-up crews are currently on the ground on both islands.

REGIONAL RESPONSE:

The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency  Coordinating Unit (CDERA CU) has been in contact with the countries affected by Hurricane Omar and continues to monitor the situation closely.  The CDERA CU has also been in contact with the Regional Security System (RSS) and the Eastern Caribbean Donor Group (ECDG).

The Eastern Caribbean Donor Group meeting which was scheduled for today Thursday 16 October 2008 at 3:30 p.m. has been cancelled.  The ECDG has agreed to concentrate its efforts through the CDERA CU.

The Regional Response Mechanism remains on standby to ensure their availability should this become necessary after full assessments have been undertaken.

The RFA Wave Ruler will deploy a helicopter to undertake fly-overs for the British Virgin Islands and Anguilla later today. The ship remains ready to provide assistance should the need arise.

Contact Details: The CDERA CU 24hr contact number is 246 425 0386

• From: Gert van Dijken <gert at vandijken.com>
• Date: Thu, 11 Sep 2008 18:00:00 -0400 (EDT)

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: 11 Sep 2008 21:55:48 -0000
Subject: Update on Impacts of Tropical Weather Systems on CDERA Participating
    States

Message: Update on Impacts of Tropical Weather Systems on CDERA Participating  
States

THE EVENT

The CDERA Participating States of Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica the Bahamas and 
the  Turks and Caicos Islands were impacted by Tropical Weather Systems over 
the period August 23- September 8, 2008 that have left a trail of death, damage 
and destruction.

Trinidad and Tobago experienced heavy rainfall on August 23 and 27, and 
September 7 2008.
The intense rains and high winds caused extensive flash and riverine flooding, 
damage to roofs, fallen trees and landslides in several municipalities. The 
severe weather experienced by Trinidad and Tobago on August 23, 2008 went on to 
develop into Tropical Storm Gustav.

Gustav impacted Jamaica between August 27-28th, 2008.  The eye of the storm 
made landfall in St. Thomas with maximum sustained winds of nearly 70mph 
(110km/h), with higher gusts. The heavy rains and strong winds affected the 
southern parishes with major impact to the parishes of Kingston, St. Andrew and 
Portland. Twelve deaths by drowning were confirmed after the passage of Gustav.

Tropical Storm Hanna and Hurricane Ike impacted the Turks and Caicos Islands 
(TCI) and the Bahamas between August 30 and September 8, 2008. Hurricane Ike 
impacted the Turks and Caicos between September 6 and 7 as a Category Four 
Hurricane on the Saffir/Simpson Hurricane Scale with winds near 135 mph 
(215km/hr). Preliminary assessments have indicated that Grand Turk and South 
Caicos (TCI) have sustained significant damage. This is also true of Great 
Inagua and to a lesser degree on the other southern islands of the Bahamas 
which were impacted on the September 7th and 8th.


SUMMARY OF IMPACT AND RESPONSE ACTIONS

TRINIDAD

The intense rains and high winds on August 23 and 27, and September 7 2008 
caused extensive flash and riverine flooding, damage to roofs, fallen trees and 
landslides. Impact was recorded in the following municipalities: Arima, 
Chaguanas, Couva/ Tabaquite/ Talparo, Diega Martin, Port of Spain, Tunapuna and 
Tobago. Several cars were also damaged and one death was reported.

Emergency assistance was required for the more than 600 affected people. The 
needs are being met at the national level.


JAMAICA

The main impacts on the communities affected were flooding, wind damage and 
landslides with a few cases of storm surge. Initial damage assessment has been 
conducted and reports have stated that 72 communities have been impacted and 4, 
000 individuals directly affected. There are also 12 persons confirmed dead.   
There are also indications that the agricultural sector has been severely 
impacted.  Damage assessment of the housing stock is ongoing, however 
approximately 200 houses have been completely destroyed in the worst affected 
communities.

Priority needs are being met nationally and through the support of several 
governments and multilateral agencies.

The Trinidad and Tobago Government has offered TNT $10 million and the Spanish 
government donated 7 tons of relief supplies, including tarpaulin, hygiene kits 
tents and blankets.

The United States Agency for International Development/Office Of Foreign 
Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) has provided $100,000 to support aerial 
reconnaissance and an air bridge to reach communities that have been isolated 
due to road damage as well as the purchase and distribution of emergency relief 
supplies including hygiene kits, plastic sheeting, wool blankets, and jerry 
cans.


BAHAMAS

Initial reports have indicated that 70 to 80 percent of houses on Great Inagua 
in the Bahamas have sustained roof damage and 25% have sustained major damage. 
Damage assessment is underway. The Airport terminal in Great Inagua has been 
destroyed, but the landing strip remains operational.  Initial relief efforts 
are well underway and are anticipated to be completed by next Wednesday, 
September 17, 2008.

One shelter remains open to accommodate families whose houses have been 
completed destroyed.  A door to door assessment is being conducted by the 
Department of Social Services and the Ministry of Public Works.

The restoration of utility services is ongoing. Electricity services are 
expected to be operational within the next 36 hours and water supply by the end 
of the week.

Priority needs identified at this time are for building, roofing materials and 
labour, however, these are being sourced through national mechanism.

USAID/OFDA has provided support for aerial reconnaissance and a disaster 
specialist to assist the Bahamas National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in 
damage and needs assessment. The International Federation Red Cross/Red 
Societies has deployed a three (3) member Regional Intervention Team.

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

The Government of Turks and Caicos Islands has declared Grand Turks and South 
Caicos Islands disaster areas. There is extensive damage to housing and 
infrastructure. Detailed priority needs are being identified.

The HMS Iron Duke has been supporting the response and relief efforts since 
September 7, 2008 and a United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination 
(UNDAC) Team has arrived to support the assessment that is underway.

Approximately 75% of the initial assessment of Grand Turk was completed by the 
CDERA led rapid damage assessment team which arrived on September 8, 2008. This 
team was mobilized by Jamaica, the sub- regional focal point for the TCI, and 
has now departed from TCI.

The Caribbean Electric Utilities Services Cooperation (CARILEC) has offered to 
support restoration of electricity services.

The International Federation Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies has deployed a 
three (3) person team from the British Red Cross on the Turks and Caicos 
Islands which is being supported by personnel from the Caribbean Regional 
Office.

A Senior Technical Officer from CDERA has been dispatched to support the 
operational response to South Caicos and is expected to arrive later today 
September 11, 2008. The CDERA Coordinator is also scheduled to arrive on Sunday 
September 14, 2008 to advance policy decisions with government officials.


CDERA 24 hour contact number is 246-425-0386