HIGHLIGHTS

• 709 persons confirmed evacuated from Petit Savanne
• Dublique has been evacuated
• Numbers have increased in shelters to approximately 405 persons
• 271 houses damaged or destroyed (217 in Petit Savanne and 54 in rest of country)
• Preliminary estimates of damage provided during the daily update by Prime Minister Skerrit:
• National Days of Mourning – Thursday, September 3rd and Friday September 4th , 2015
• National Days of Prayer - Saturday, September 5th and Sunday, September 6th
• Eastern Caribbean Development Partners Group for Disaster Management (ECPDG/DM) met today September 3, 2015 in Barbados to discuss priority needs and review humanitarian response to Dominica
• Rotation of CARICOM Damage Assessment and Coordination (CDAC) and CARICOM Operational Support Teams (COST) continues.
• Barbados Defence Force Coast Guard Vessel facilitated transport of CIMH Technical personnel and CDAC and COST personnel to Dominica
• St Vincent and the Grenadines is providing 100ft of Bailey Bridges. These are expected to depart St Vincent and the Grenadines by Friday, September 4th
• French Helicopter continues to distribute relief supplies to areas inaccessible by road
• Container of relief supplies from Antigua and Barbuda has arrived in Dominica.
• NAGICO Insurance has pledged EC$75,000 in $100 food vouchers.

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 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 1, 2015 the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) has confirmed 11 dead and 23 reported missing.

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

The Prime Minister of Dominica has declared Thursday, September 4th and Friday, September 5, 2015 as National Days of Mourning. He has also designated Saturday, September 6, and Sunday, September 7, 2015 as National Days of Prayer.

IMPACT

Casualties
Dead and Missing
As of September 2nd, 2015, the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) has confirmed 11 dead and 24 reportedly missing.

Homeless
574 persons

Evacuees

• 709 evacuated from Petit Savanne
• Dublique has been evacuated

Shelters and shelterees
8 shelters are opened with approximately 405 shelterees.

Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis
Damage assessment and needs analysis 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.

Infrastructure

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

Preliminary estimates of damage to roads and bridges are estimated at $612.7 million

Communications

• All FM stations are operational along with 2 television stations.
• Mobile service and internet service restoration are ongoing

Health

• 3 hospitals and 43 health centres are 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 Princes Margaret Hospital.

Transport

• 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.
• From Roseau to Pond Case to Castle Bruce, Kalinago Territory unto 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.

Police/Military Facilities
Police headquarters are reachable via cell phones.

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 estimates of damage to the Airports is estimated at $39.5 million

Utilities

Electricity
The Government of Dominica has reported that they continue to work on restoring power within the affected areas.

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 headteachers and teachers rs 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

 

REGIONAL ACTIONS:

The Regional Response Mechanism (RRM) remains activated. The RRM is an arrangement for the coordination of disaster response among CDEMA Participating States, and Regional and International Agencies. The RRM is coordinated by CDEMA through the Regional Coordination Centre in Barbados.

Deployment, 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.

UPDATES ON PLEDGES AND SUPPORT

CDEMA Participating States

Antigua and Barbuda:
A container of relief supplies was dispatched to Dominica on Monday night (August 31 containing 63 boxes of clothing and shoes, toiletries, dry goods and canned goods. The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has also committed an immediate US$100, 000 and relief experts to the Government of Dominica.

Barbados:
The Government of Barbados continues to support the transit of essential personnel and relief supplies from its port to Dominica.

Saint Lucia:
The Government of Saint Lucia continues to support the transit of essential personnel and relief supplies from its ports to Dominica.

Saint Vincent:
The Government of Saint Vincent has committed 100ft Bailey Bridges. These are scheduled to depart Saint Vincent by Friday 4th September, 2015.

Trinidad and Tobago:
Helicopters used in the early stages of the response have completed the initial hours pledged and are now on standby for further deployment as necessary.

Please see Annex 1 for summary of pledges and support by CDEMA Participating States

Regional Institutions Support

Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) called a meeting on September 1st of Chief Medical Officers (CMO) in the region to brief them on the current situation in the health sector in Dominica.

University of the West Indies has placed six engineers on standby who are experienced in assessment in infrastructural damage and flooding, public health, water supplies and water resource management.

Please See Annex 2 for summary of pledges and support by Regional Institutions Support

Development Partner/Non-CDEMA Participating States

Government of France:
A French Helicopter is distributing relief supplies to areas that are inaccessible by road.

United Kingdom:
The British vessel, RFA Lyme Bay, arrived in Dominica on Wednesday, September 2, 2015. Command post has been set up in Dublanc. Four (4) posts established: (1) command centre (2) distribution (3) medical (4) welfare. They will be servicing West Coast from Dublanc to Salisbury.

United Development Fund:
UNDP has indicated that US$50, 000 will be made accessible from tomorrow, September 2, to assist with relief support.

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is working with Dominican media stations on airing the child protection messages produced by UNICEF in collaboration with CDEMA.

European Union:
The European Commission is providing €300 000 in emergency humanitarian funding. The The emergency aid provided by the EU is to assist those most affected and will be distributed through the Pan American Health Organisation.. In collaboration with the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID), relief efforts will focus on: restoring access to essential health services and medical care capacity (including psycho-social support); providing safe drinking water, and ensuring proper hygiene, sanitation and waste management; and implementing crucial disease prevention activities.

Seven (7) engineers from the European Union are also on hand to assist with the assessment of roads and bridges.

Please See Annex 3 for summary of pledges and support by Development Partner/Non-CDEMA Participating States

Private Sector
NAGICO Insurance has pledgedEC$75,000 in $100 food vouchers.

CDEMA is coordinating the Regional Response Mechanism and providing direct support to Dominica.

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