Situation Report #3 Hurricane Tomas - Saint Lucia declares a national disaster and disaster areas declared for some areas of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (November 1, 2010 as of 12.00noon)
Message: The Government of Saint Lucia has declared a national disaster and national disaster areas have been declared for sections of St. Vincent and the Grenadines following the passage of Hurricane Tomas over the weekend.
Event: Tomas, the nineteenth named storm of the season formed southeast of the windward islands on the afternoon of October 29, 2010. At 5.00pm Tropical Storm warnings were issued for the following countries: Barbados, Grenada, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago and these were upgraded to Hurricane warnings by 11.00 pm on October 29.
Tomas made landfall in Barbados as a very strong tropical storm, at about 2:00 a.m. on Saturday October 30, 2010 with maximum sustained winds of near 70 miles per hour with higher gusts. The centre of the storm passed 20 miles south of Barbados, strengthened to a Category 1 Hurricane and moved northwest, severely impacting the states of Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Saint Lucia. Tomas left heavy damage in Barbados and significant damage in Saint Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The Government of Saint Lucia has declared a national disaster and national disaster areas have been declared for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines from Park Hill to Sandy Bay on the Windward side and Belle Isle to Fitz Hughes on the north western side of the island.
Prognosis At 11.00 a.m today, November 1, 2010, the centre of Hurricane Tomas was located near latitude 13.6 north and longitude 68.7 west. Tomas is moving toward the west- southwest near 14 mph. A general westward motion with a decrease in forward speed is expected during the next day or two. Tomas has weakened to maximum sustained winds of 50 mph however, rapid intensification is predicted over the next couple of days.
The five day forecast for Tropical Storm Tomas as at 11:00 a.m. shows the possible storm centre of Tomas near Haiti and Jamaica by 8:00a.m on Friday. These countries should therefore be on alert and pay close attention to weather forecasts
Page 1 of 5
Barbados:
Impact
Tropical Storm Tomas has resulted in wide spread roof loss, downed power lines and trees across Barbados.
Approximately, 130 homes have been damaged concentrated in the parishes of St. George and St. Lucy.
75 to 80 percent of the electrical service to island was disrupted and water supply was significantly reduced in many areas.
National Actions The Ministry of Education has closed all schools for the day (November 1, 2010).
Teams on the ground are continuing with damage assessments which will be completed by November 1, 2010. The utilities are being restored in the affected areas. Clearing of major roads is also continuing based on the scheduling arranged by the Ministry of Transport and Works and the Department of Emergency Management (DEM).
The Red Cross has distributed tarpaulins to 37 families in St. Joseph and St. Andrew. Linens have also been donated by the Barbados Red Cross to the District Emergency Organisations.
All but three polyclinics are open to the public for those requiring medical attention due to a disruption in the water supply.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines:
Impact St Vincent and the Grenadines experienced high winds and heavy rains which resulted in significant damage across the island but mainly on the windward and north western sides of the island.
Preliminary reports on impact are as follows:
• No deaths reported, two (2) persons injured, • Approximately 600 houses damaged and 14 destroyed,
Page 2 of 5
• Seven (7) Government buildings damaged; 7-8 schools badly damaged, • 1,194 persons were in shelters on October 31, 2010, • Road networks were blocked; all main roads are now passable, • Water and power supplies have been affected, • Many fallen trees across the island, • Significant impact to banana and plantain sectors.
National Actions The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has declared disaster areas from Park Hill to Sandy Bay on the Windward side and Belle Isle to Fitz Hughes on the north western side of the island.
The Ministry of Education has declared all schools closed for the week.
Preliminary Damage Assessment teams have been deployed and damage assessment is underway.
The Relief Supplies and Shelter Management Sub-Committee has commenced the distribution of relief supplies.
Road clearing and clean up operations are continuing. Essential services teams are conducting assessments and working to fully restore water and electricity to affected areas. Electricity has been restored to key areas on the mainland, St. Vincent.
Immediate Needs • 2,000 Plastic sheeting • 2,000 Hygiene and comfort kits • 1,000 blankets • Plywood • Galvanize sheets • Lanterns (non-kerosene) • Roofing materials • Water jugs
Page 3 of 5
Saint Lucia
Impact St. Lucia experienced sustained winds of 90 - 95 mph which caused significant loss and damage to several houses and small commercial structures in communities.
• Three (3) deaths have been reported. • Infrastructural damage to government buildings has been reported. • Communications have been significantly hampered. 11 radio stations are non operational including the main Radio Station. Two stations are now on air providing information to the public one of which is Karib Cable. • There has been major damage to roads and bridges. The Choc and Bois D’Orange two major bridges on the Gros-Islet highway have been affected. • The community of Soufriere is completely cut off due to landslides. • The Hewanorra airport is still closed. • Disruption to electricity and telecommunication services continues but has been restored in some areas. There has been island wide power outage. Landline and internet service are also unavailable in most areas on the island.
National Actions
The government of Saint Lucia has declared a national disaster.
Damage assessment teams have been deployed country wide.
Shelters are opened and occupied in Canaries, Dennery North and South, Vieux –Fort and Gros-Islet. The shelter population is decreasing
Immediate Needs and Priority Actions • 1500 Hygiene Kits • 1500 – 2000 Plastic Sheeting • Temporary Bridging for major bridges damaged • Rapid Needs Assessment Team Support
Page 4 of 5
Regional and International Response The CDEMA Coordinating Unit continues to maintain contact with the impacted Participating States closely monitoring the situation and coordinating the regional response.
Mr. Jeremy Collymore Executive Director of CDEMA and Mr. Grantley Watson the Regional Coordinator of the Regional Security System (RSS) departed Barbados at midday today, November 1, 2010 for Saint Lucia. They will meet with the Government of Saint Lucia in order to get an initial assessment of the extent of loss and damages to inform regional support and assistance.
The Rapid Needs Assessment Team and CDEMA’s Technical Emergency Assessment Team have been deployed.
Following an Eastern Caribbean Donor Group meeting in Barbados on October 31, 2010 the following has been pledged.
• USAID/OFDA - US $50,000 to both Saint Vincent and Grenadines and Saint Lucia.
The Regional Response Mechanism remains on standby. The CARICOM Disaster Relief Unit (CDRU) is also on standby and ready to provide response support should this become necessary.
The Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) has estimated a payout of US $8.5 million for Barbados, US $3.2 million for Saint Lucia, and US $1.1 million for St Vincent and the Grenadines.
The IFRC has mobilized resources out of the French Overseas Territories to assist in recovery efforts in Saint Lucia.
Contact Details: The CDEMA CU 24hr contact number is 1 246 425 0386
Page 5 of 5