HURRICANE IRMA Situation Report No. 2

10 September 2017 – 19:00 EST

HIGHLIGHTS SITUATION IN NUMBERS  A category 2 has reached Florida today as it moves over the west coast of the Florida Peninsula and move inland over northern Florida and southwest Georgia

 In the United States, 460 shelters are housing 127,000 occupants in Florida and 34 32 million shelters housing 4,413 occupants in Georgia People in the inhabited parts of  Many of the devastated islands such as Barbuda, U.S. Virgin Islands, British Virgin the Caribbean exposed to high Islands, , and and still experiencing power outages and lack of speed wind zones (excess of access to clean water 60km/h)1  The residents of Barbuda have been evacuated to shelters in Antigua due to Hurricane Jose  Needs and damage assessments are ongoing in , , and Turks and 2 million Caicos but preliminary reports indicate damage to roofs, some flooding, and power People in the Caribbean living in

outages areas exposed to extreme high-

 In Cuba, more than 1,130,000 people have been evacuated to shelters or houses of speed wind zones (excess of neighbors and relatives. 1,134 shelters were opened and staffed with more than 5,000 1 120 km/h) health workers

 Heightened epidemiological surveillance to support early detection and timely management of disease outbreaks will be important in the coming days due to lack of 17,000 access to clean water, healthcare and treatment, and increase in vectors which could People in need of immediate encourage transmission of diseases shelter across the affected eastern Caribbean islands

25 deaths

2 Hurricanes

Currently active in the Atlantic

Ocean: Irma and Jose over the Caribbean

1. UNISTAR UNOSTAT population exposure map (7 September 2017)

Source: Pan American Health Organization Health Emergencies Pan American Health Organization Health Emergencies Department www.paho.org/disasters | © PAHO/WHO, 2017 SITUATION OVERVIEW

Hurricane Irma, currently a category 2 hurricane, has impacted Key West and South Florida today and is forecasted to move over the west coast of the Florida Peninsula and inland over northern Florida and southwest Georgia. Damage and needs assessments is ongoing in Bahamas, Cuba, and Turks and Caicos which were hit yesterday and today by the hurricane. The passage of the hurricane has devastated the , leaving many without electricity, access to clean water, and communication. Some of these islands that already had significant infrastructural damage suffered further rain and wind brought by Hurricane Jose, but no further devastation was reported due to its movement north. ANGUILLA

Approximately 90% of housing was damaged with 40% reported as severely damaged. Hurricane Jose brought rain and winds to the island, complicating the ongoing responses until the passage of the storm. Roads are being cleared as access to the police station and airport is restored. The hospital continues operations in emergency care, surgery, laboratory, pharmacy and X-ray services.

The residents of Barbuda have been evacuated to 3 shelters in Antigua or houses of relatives or friends in anticipation of Hurricane Jose. Telecommunication systems on Barbuda continue to be limited and power supply remains unavailable. The roof of Hanna Thomas Hospital and Hanna Thomas Health Center is 85% damaged, diesel generator is not operational, and water tanks are contaminated and not operational. Almost all other critical facilities have been destroyed. Main access road is obstructed. BAHAMAS

After the passage of the hurricane, damage to infrastructure resulting in power outage and blocked roads were reported in the Bahamas. Bahamas telecommunication is off line in most southern islands and intermittent in central islands. Ragged Island reported that roof of the clinic was damaged. Due to restrictions on travel because of weather or lack of access to airports, needs and damage assessments are ongoing. The Ministry of Health issued a general public service announcement about food and water safety. Assessment missions will take place in Southern Bahamas of Acklins, Crooked Island, Inagua, Mayaguana, and Raggged Island. BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

Four people are confirmed dead on the island. Telecommunications is partially restored, although access to electricity and water remain a challenge due to the infrastructure damage. The airport tower is compromised with flights landing with manual guidance before dusk. The hospital is severely damaged and has a shortage of water. A state of emergency has been declared for security after the prison break with 120 prisoner escaped. Anegada Island is in full devastation. British Virgin Islands is one of the areas in most need of health and medical staff to provide surge and support for rotation of national staff, many of whom are also impacted and have been working non-stop since the hurricane. Medicines and other medical supplies were destroyed, and there is request for antibiotics. CUBA

More than 1,130,000 people have been evacuated to shelters or houses of neighbors and relatives. 1,134 shelters were opened and staffed with more than 5,000 health workers. In Havana, an estimated 23,000 people were affected, of which 14,000 were evacuated to 1,134 shelters. Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital, the premier hospital in Cuba, reported flooding which is being resolved and no major damage was reported. Strong wind and flooding were reported in Guantanamo and Holguin, and loss of communication with Caletones. Power outage and severe damage is reported in the coastal community of Yumuri. 78 medical brigades were deployed and 43 hospitals and polyclinics are providing essential health services with special focus on protecting pregnant women. No deaths were reported. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

The storm passed north of Dominican Republic and caused floods and strong winds affecting public infrastructure and houses. No fatalities or missing persons have been reported. 191 shelters housed 10,700 displaced persons, and additional 13,000 are displaced in houses of friends and family. Power outage is affecting 350,000 households. Health services have not been affected and sufficient medicine supplies are available. The HAITI

The red alert has been lifted and the change in trajectory of Hurricane Irma decreased its potential impact on Haiti, avoiding a major catastrophe. Floods are reported in Nord-Est, Artibonite, Centre and Nord Departments. The Ouanaminthe-Dajabon bridge, the largest border crossing between Haiti and Dominican Republic on the Nord-Est has collapsed. The Artibonite River that runs through several departments is flooded, as well as other rivers in Nord-Est, Centre and Nord departments that are mildly flooded. Seven persons are wounded in Nord department; one is severely wounded but stable in HUJ Hospital in Cap Haitian. One missing person in Centre Department and two injured in Nord Department have been reported. Out of 50 health structures that were evaluated in Artibonite, Nord-Est, and Centre Departments by PAHO/WHO field teams, only 3 have small damages, but are still functional. In addition, 5 cholera treatment facilities have been mildly damaged but functional out of 40 that were evaluated. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is supporting the National Emergency Operations Center (COUN) and the health cluster has been activated since before the hurricane in preparation. Health cluster will most likely be deactivated soon, but will

2 keep on working on surveillance, as an increase in cholera cases and other diseases in the affected departments might be expected. Technical experts in epidemiological surveillance are being deployed for support. PUERTO RICO

All major roads are open as well as the airport in San Juan. Power outages are affecting 544,000 people, and 580,000 people are in need of drinking water. Drinking water stations are being set up throughout the island. One out of 69 hospitals is closed, and 25 hospitals are working on generator power. SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS

Some air traffic has been restored. Health needs assessment are underway and healthcare facilities reported damages. SAINT MARTIN

The French government reported 9 fatalities, 7 missing and 112 injured. 95% of homes are affected, and 60% are uninhabitable. Replacement medical staffs are being deployed from Guadeloupe and France. Electricity continues to be cut off, and drinking water and gasoline is unavailable. Clearing operations on blocked and partially accessible roads have commenced. Communications are challenging with networks heavily impacted. The port and regional airport of Grand Case is used to organize arrival of rescue aid. Soldiers and police force are being deployed to improve security situation.

The Government of the Netherlands reported four deaths. Significant damage to infrastructure is reported. Hospital does not have access to water and electricity. Security situation has improved with patrols preventing looting and robberies. Water and food distribution has taken place. TURKS AND CAICOS

The hospital sustained damage to the roof, causing flooding. One generator of the hospital failed, so is currently running on 75% of the capacity which is enough to run the entire hospital. There is no shortage of food or medicines. Due to restrictions on travel because of weather and lack of access to airports, on-site damage assessments have been made in Provinciales so far. Further needs and damage assessments are ongoing. UNITED STATES

Hurricane Irma has impacted Key West and South Florida today as it moves over the west coast of the Florida Peninsula and inland over northern Florida and southwest Georgia in the next few days. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) teams have been deployed, and search and rescue teams have been prepositioned. State of Emergency was declared for 67 counties in Florida and 94 counties in Georgia. Evacuation was mandatory for 30 counties and voluntary for 16 counties in Florida, and mandatory in six counties in Georgia. 460 shelters are housing 127,000 occupants in Florida and 34 shelters housing 4,413 occupants in Georgia. In Florida, 34 hospitals are closed and 204 healthcare facilities have been evacuated. Georgia and South Carolina evacuated 34 medical facilities and 140 healthcare facilities, respectively. UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS

There are 376 people in 6 shelters that are open. Saint Thomas airport is closed to commercial flights, but available for emergency and military operations. , Saint Thomas and Saint John are experiencing power outages, and 341,000 people are without potable water. One hospital in Saint Thomas is closed and evacuated.

NEEDS

Heavily devastated islands continue to have challenges in accessing ports, airports and roads, hampering needs and damage assessments and rapid delivery of critical emergency care assistance. As urgent humanitarian needs are identified, efficient coordination of humanitarian assistance and information management is necessary to effectively address them. As electrical outage is reported in many of these islands, restoring access to drinking water remains a challenge. Heightened epidemiological surveillance to support early detection and timely management of disease outbreaks will be important in the coming days due to lack of access to clean water, healthcare and treatment, and increase in vectors which could encourage transmission of diseases. Environmental Health should also be addressed in these islands as clearing and recovery continues. Strengthening capacity in addressing mental health in impacted population, especially those in shelters is important.

RESPONSE ACTIONS

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is coordinating deployments of human resources as part of a surge capacity to support the Ministry of Health and humanitarian response as the authorities identify needs. This includes staff deployed by PAHO, 3

Emergency Medical Team (EMT), and the Regional Rapid Response Team. Focus areas in deployments include coordination, damage assessment, epidemiological surveillance, logistics, information management, and water and sanitation. Rapid Response Team experts including logisticians, electrical engineers, assessment and WASH experts are being deployed after the passage of Hurricane Jose. Requested supplies are being provided by PAHO and country offices in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. As needed medical and other supplies are identified by countries and shared with PAHO, medical and other supplies are being prepositioned in Panama and Barbados for rapid distribution. As of 10 September 2017 the following EMTs have confirmed readiness for deployment and are on Stand-By status

EMT NAME EMT TYPE COUNTRY

Johanniter International Assistance Germany Type 1 Mobile Germany ASB Germany Type 1 Fix Germany Canadian Medical Assistance Teams Type 1 Mobile & Fix Canada Humanity First Type 1 Mobile Canada Canadian Red Cross Type 2 Canada CCSS Costa Rica Type 1 Fix Costa Rica Medical Teams International Type 1 Mobile United States of America USAR Team Type 1 Fix Brazil NYCMedics Type 1 Mobile United States of America Direct Relief Specialized Cell – Health United States of Logistics Support America Through the Regional CICOM, coordination is ongoing to support deployment to the most affected areas of the Caribbean. Permanent communications is sustained with Health Authorities to provide the EMT response that better suits the health needs assessed in the field. There is a strong possibility that the first EMTs could be deployed within the next 72 hours to support health surge capacity. Remaining EMTs on stand-by status will be strategically deployed after Hurricane Jose’s landfall in the Easter Caribbean. FOR MORE INFORMATION:

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