HIGHLIGHTS

CDEMA has drafted a recommendation for the recovery of Dominica based on the Model National Recovery Framework. It focuses on the development of a Recovery Coordination Committee and a National Recovery Task Force.

Rotation and Redeployment of relief and response teams under the Regional Response Mechanism arrangement is continuing as necessary. It is expected that by early next week all of the Search and Rescue teams will leave Dominica for their home countries.

Airport
Work is ongoing to operationlise the Melville Hall Airport. A LIAt aircraft completed a successful test landing on Saturday, September 5, 2015.

Relief to Communities
The needs of the isolated communities are being met in numerous ways. Food, water and other supplies are being distributed by various groups. Food is also being distributed to the shelters and meals are also being prepared by local people.

Dominica Red Cross
The Dominica Red Cross continues to support the relief effort and has been distributing supplies to several communities including, Pichelin, Grand Bay, Bagatelle, Fond St. Jean and Pointe Carib. Supplies distributed to these areas include hygiene kits, water, buckets, jerry cans, kitchen kits, and tarpaulin.

Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH)
Staff from the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) participated in a planning meeting between the Dominica Ministry of Public Works and the World Bank team on the island. The CIMH team visited the Pichelin area to assess the hydrological conditions in the area. They also participated in a site visit over Petite Savanne to survey the damage and assess the geological stability of the area. The site visit to Petite Savanne was facilitated by the Venezuela helicopter. CIMH has prepared a report on its assessments for presentation the Ministry of Works and the World Bank

Japan Relief Contingent
The contingent has arrived in Dominica and met with the Dominica National Disaster Coordinator who received generators and portable water treatment plants.

Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO)
Five (5) nurses from St. Vincent have been deployed as of September 5, 2015.

United Kingdom
Relief efforts by the British Frigate (RFA Lyme Bay) are ongoing. They have been distributing food and water to four (4) communities on the West Coast of Dominica. Hot meals are also being supplied.

United States of America
The Government of the United States of America through the United States Department of International Development (USAID) has deployed team of disaster management specialists who are conducting ongoing needs assessments, as well as coordinating the distribution of essential relief supplies and equipment. USAID’s lead Caribbean disaster management advisor from its regional office in Costa Rica leads the team and is supported by two (2) regional disaster management specialists and three (3) local advisors from Dominica. The team has been on the ground since August 27, 2015.

The Regional Coordination Centre will be stood down with effect from Sunday, September 6, 2015. Situation Reports on Dominica’s recovery efforts will now be issued as necessary.

EVENT

Erika became the fifth named storm of this year’s Atlantic Hurricane Season on August 24, 2015. Erika began impacting the CDEMA Participating States from Wednesday, August 26 and degenerated to a trough of low pressure on Saturday, August 29, 2015.

The centre of Tropical Storm Erika passed about 90 miles to the North of the Commonwealth of Dominica at its nearest point, with the storm producing intense rainfall across the island. The Canefield Airport near the capital of Roseau, Dominica, recorded 12.64 inches of rain in a 12-hour period from Erika on Thursday, August 27. This resulted in severe flooding and landslides and wide spread damage across the island. As of September 3rd, 2015, the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) confirmed 12 dead, 22 missing and 20 injured.

Following a preliminary assessment of the impact, the Prime Minister of Dominica declared nine (9) Special Disaster Areas on August 29, 2015. The Prime Minister’s address to the nation and declaration can be accessed at https://soundcloud.com/rooseveltskerrit

Special Disaster Areas

The Government of Dominica has declared nine (9) Special Disaster Areas. These are:

• Petite Savanne
• Pichelin
• Good Hope
• Bath Estate (Paradise Valley)
• Dubique
• Campbell
• Coulibistrie
• San Sauveur
• Petite Soufriere

A hotline has been established with the Office of Disaster Management (ODM) and the Dominica Red Cross to offer assistance to persons seeking information on family members. The number is 1 (767) 448-8280.

The Government of DominiCa has established an account at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank to receive contributions in support of its recovery and reconstruction efforts following the passage of Tropical Storm Erika.

The account details are as follows:
United States Dollars (USD)
Federal Reserve Bank (NY)
SWIFT: FRNYUS33
ECCB’s account number at the FED: 021083695
FFC Government of Dominica account 310301005

NATIONAL DAYS OF MOURNING AND PRAYER

The Prime Minister of Dominica declared Thursday, September 3rd and Friday, September 4th, 2015 as National Days of Mourning. He also designated Saturday, September 5th and Sunday, September 6th, 2015 as National Days of Prayer.

IMPACT AND RESPONSE

Casualties

Dead, Missing and Injured

• As of September 3rd, 2015, the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) has confirmed 12 dead, 22 missing and 20 injured.

Homeless

• 574 persons

Evacuees

• 713 evacuated from Petit Savanne
• Dubique has been evacuated

Shelters and shelterees

• Eight (8) shelters were opened, with approximately 411 shelterees.

DAMAGE ASSESSMENT AND NEEDS ANALYSIS

Damage assessment and needs analysis (DANA) are ongoing. Data is currently being collated at the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC).

Housing Stock

Preliminary damage assessment has indicated:

• 271 houses damaged or destroyed of which 217 are in Petite Savanne and 54 in the rest of the country as of September 2, 2015.

Infrastructure

• Several communities remain cut off as a result of damage to roadways and bridges.
• Clearing of roads blocked by debris is ongoing.

A preliminary estimate of damage to roads and bridges is EC$612.7 million as of September 2, 2015.

Health (as at September 3, 2015)

• Three (3) Hospitals and 43 Health Centres are operational
• Three (3) Health Centres are not operational

The Ministry of Health has activated its Emergency Response Plan and Health Emergency Operations Centre (EOC). The Health EOC is located at the APU Building at Princess Margaret Hospital.

Transport (as at September 1, 2015)

• Roseau southwards to Soufriere is accessible.
• Roseau to Loubiere to Bellevue is accessible.
• Roseau, northwards along the west coast to Batalie is accessible.
• Four wheeled drive vehicles can access Portsmouth via that route.
• There are bypasses at Layou, Macoucherie and Batalie. However, the Batalie bypass is inaccessible. There are diversions at Coulibistrie. River path was created in Coulibistrie to facilitate commuting.
• From Roseau to Pond Case to Castle Bruce, Kalinago Territory into Marigot is accessible.
• Northwards, from Portsmouth to Marigot is accessible and Portsmouth to Capuchin is accessible. Portsmouth to Vielle Case and Penville are also accessible. Galleon is not accessible

Airport
Work is ongoing to operationlise the Melville Hall Airport. A LIAt aircraft completed a successful test landing on Saturday, September 5, 2015.

Police/Military Facilities
Police headquarters is reachable via cell phone.

Ports of entry

• Melville Hall’s airport suffered damage and remains closed to commercial flights.
• The Canefield airport is operational for helicopter and small aircraft use.
• All sea ports remain functional and open.

The preliminary estimate of damage to the Airports is EC$39.5 million

Utilities

Electricity

Dominica Electricity Services (DOMLEC) has reported the following:

• Several hydro systems were significantly affected
• 1,070 customers continue to be affected as at September 3, 2015
• For safety purposes some homes will have to be re-certified before power can be restored

DOMLEC continues to work on restoring power within the affected areas.

Water

Dominica Water and Sewerage Company Limited (DOWASCO) has reported the following:

• 100% of national water system was affected
• 60% of the water systems are restored as at September 3, 2015
• Approximately 70% of the population are receiving potable water as at Sep 3, 2015
• Water is being delivered to some areas
• Need for additional water purification tablets and water purification units

Communications

• All FM stations are operational along with two (2) television stations.

Telecommunications Service Providers

LIME and DIGICEL collaborated on restoring service in the post Erika efforts.

LIME

• Underground fiber optic transmission network was significantly compromised due to flooding and the washing away of bridges and river crossings.
• Lime mobilized and received support from regional colleagues in Jamaica (9), Antigua (5), and Saint Lucia (1) as well as Miami (1).
• 98% of the subscribers have had service restored as of September 3, 2015.
• Sites not restored include Douglas Charles airport. This will be restored when the facility is fully operational.
• LIME is supporting the humanitarian response. The company has established a text to donate initiative across the network in the region. Each text generates US$1.00 for the Dominica relief efforts.

DIGICEL

• DIGICEL services were also impacted. The network was completely down on Friday, August 28, 2015.
• There was 98% network availability as at September 3, 2015.
• DIGICEL is supporting the humanitarian efforts through a variety of interventions including the establishment of a text to donate initiative across the Region.

Education

• The Ministry of Education (MoE) in Dominica has indicated that of the 75 schools (primary and secondary), 22 are either unreachable or damaged, and one extensively damaged.
• A number of early childhood centres are also damaged, but extent and number are yet to be ascertained.
• The opening of schools is postponed from next week to September 21st. The Permanent Secretary, MoE has indicated that one of the largest schools is being used as a shelter.
• The MoE has asked head teachers and teachers to report to work and start with the clearing of schools in readiness for the opening.

Agriculture

• Loss of access to farms and farm lands due to washing away of bridges, roads and feeder roads.
• Crops, livestock, land, fertile top soil has been destroyed.
• Initial assessment puts damages as follows: livestock – EC$577 000, Crops – EC$9,716,000, infrastructure – EC$11,910,000, farm housing, equipment and inputs – EC$2,380,200.
• Preliminary assessments puts the damage to the fishing industry at EC $1,775,000.
• Abandoned farm animals in Petite Savanne stand the risk of dying of starvation; Delices is also making a plea for animal feed.
• 600 acres of bay leaf compromised and distillery destroyed.

Tourism

Preliminary assessment of the Tourism Sector has indicated damage in excess of EC$28.9 million.

REGIONAL ACTIONS:

The Regional Coordination Centre will be stood down with effect from Sunday, September 6, 2015. Situation Reports on Dominica’s recovery efforts will now be issued as necessary.

Quantification of needs and priorities are ongoing and are being coordinated by the CARICOM Disaster and Assessment Coordination (CDAC) team on the ground. The National Emergency Operations Centre is also being supported by the CARICOM Operational Support Team (COST). Additionally, CDEMA has initiated its first rotation of the CDAC and COST teams to relieve those deployed in the immediate aftermath of the event.

Rotation and redeployment of relief and response teams under the Regional Response Mechanism arrangement is continuing as necessary. It is expected that by early next week all the Search and Rescue teams will leave Dominica for their home countries.

CDEMA has drafted a recommendation for the recovery of Dominica and this is based on the Model National Recovery Framework. It focuses on the development of a Recovery Coordination Committee and a National Recovery Task Force.

PLEDGES AND SUPPORT

For detailed updates on pledges and support as of September 6, 2015, please refer to Annexes below:

• Annex 1
• Annex 2
• Annex 3

CONTACT DETAILS: The CDEMA CU 24-hour contact number 1(246) 434-4880