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Tropical Storm Noel Dominican Republic Situation Report No.2 Page 1 Situation Report 2 – Tropical Storm Noel – DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 2 NOVEMBER 2007 This situation report is based on information received from the National Emergency Commission and member institutions from the Emergency Operations Centre and United Nations agencies in country. HIGHLIGHTS • Dominican Republic - Latest reports indicate 79 people killed, some 65,000 displaced and 74 communities currently isolated. • Four members of the UNDAC team arrived in country. • Noel has also affected Haiti, Jamaica, Cuba and the Bahamas. Noel was upgraded to a Category One hurricane late on Thursday before it passed through the Bahamas. Tropical Storm “Noel”-Regional impact Dominican Republic- General Situation 1. On Friday, 28 October, a low pressure system 3. Heavy and prolonged rainfall hit most of the formed over the Central Caribbean, south of country, with rivers overflowing their banks and Hispaniola Island. Early Sunday morning this low causing major flooding, landslides and the destruction pressure system evolved as a Tropical Depression, of bridges throughout the Dominican Republic. and rapidly became a Tropical Storm, threatening directly the Dominican Republic. Haiti, Jamaica, 4. Latest reports indicate that 79 people have been Cuba and the Bahamas have also been affected. killed, 43 are missing, 1,522 rescued and some Tropical Storm Noel has now been upgraded to a 65,000 are displaced. In addition, 74 communities are category one hurricane. currently isolated, approximately 15,338 homes have been partially destroyed and 35 bridges and highways 2. In Haiti, light rain continues, increasing the risk affected. These figures are preliminary as many of landslides. Some 40 deaths have been reported (27 communities are still cut off, and search and rescue the West, 4 in the South, 4 in South East, 2 in operations as well as assessments continue. Artibonite, 2 in North and 1 in Nippes), 14 persons are missing, 71 people are injured, 2, 247 families 5. The main areas affected are the traditionally have been affected, and there are approximately vulnerable areas/river basins of Bajo Yuna, Yaque 11,400 people in shelters. So far, 883 houses have del Sur and Yaque del Norte as well as all other been destroyed and 3,000 houses damaged. vulnerable locations (hillsides and gullies) in many Government and UN response is ongoing. Noel other parts of the country especially: Santo Domingo, claimed the life of one person in Jamaica. In the Distrito Nacional, San Cristóbal, Peravía, Azua, Bahamas, rains associated with this storm have now Barahona, Pedernales, Independencia, Bahoruco, San caused severe flooding on the central islands: Long Juan de la Maguana, Santiago, Puerto Plata, Espaiat, Island, Exuma and Cat Island, Andros and New Salcedo, Duarte (especially Bajo Yuna), María Providence. Flooding of up to four feet have been Trinidad Sánchez, La Vega, Monte Plata, Moseñor reported in some areas and have caused severe Nouel, Hato Mayor (especially Sabana de la Mar), El damage to crops and livestock on farms. Seibo (especially Miches), Sánchez Ramírez, Dajabón, Montecristi, Santiago Rodríguez, La Altagracia and San Pedro de Macorís. Tropical Storm Noel Dominican Republic Situation Report No.2 Page 2 6. According to weather forecasts, rains are situation and the immediate needs identified by the expected to diminish in all the territory. However, COE and CNE. heavy downpours are still expected in the South East, South West and in border areas. South western part of 11. The Secretary of Public Health and Social the country remains cut off due to a collapsed bridge Welfare (SESPAS) has ordered the activation and on main road west of town of Bani. The National deployment of an elite unit of the Under-Secretary of Office of Meteorology (ONAMET) maintains flood Social Welfare to the areas that sustained the most alerts in 20 provinces. Floods are being reported in damage as a result of the storm. In addition, SESPAS more than 100 communities. has established a network of ambulances composed of 18 units, in order to provide assistance to all 7. There is massive loss of standing crops people who need medical assistance Additionally, including staples bananas and rice. Forty per cent of SESPAS is providing supplies for water and the water distribution system is damaged. Health is sanitation and oral rehydration. of particular concern especially water borne disease and mosquito vector disease, such as malaria. INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE IN THE FIELD NATIONAL RESPONSE 12. The UN Country Team met to discuss a 8. President Leonel Fernández declared the state possible CERF request, a Flash Appeal and the of national emergency which will allow the quick activation of the clusters. The UNETE is working on disbursement of funds to procure emergency relief information, resource mobilization, and is carrying items and services to respond to the disaster. The out assessments today to rapidly evaluate the Administrative Secretariat of the Presidency was also humanitarian situation, coordinating with the designated as the responsible entity for all Government and local NGOS. An inter-agency administrative measures for the response, including meeting, including donors, took place to ensure facilitating the channeling of international assistance. coordination of all efforts. Seven geographical In addition, the Presidency is intending to request a priority zones will be assessed and teams have been loan of USD 200 million to respond to the formed using the REDLAC assessment form. emergency. 13. Four members of the UNDAC team have 9. The Government has been carrying out rescue arrived in San Jose, and a Humanitarian Affairs and relief operations but the scale of disaster, Officer from the OCHA Regional Office in Panama continuing heaving rains until last night and the is providing support to the UN Resident collapse of road communications in many parts of the Coordinator’s office. The UNDAC team will deploy country is overwhelming. Some 71 shelters are its coordination system within the COE. In addition, reported to have been opened but conditions are technical experts from PAHO, FAO, WFP, and precarious and support limited. BCPR were deployed. 14. International assistance as received includes: 10. The response is led by the Emergency Operations Centre (COE), which has been activated International Contribution at regional, provincial and municipal levels. The CNE Organization has called a meeting with the Donors with the UNICEF 60,000 USD purpose of formally presenting an overview of the UNFPA 50,000 USD (shelter) OCHA 50,000 USD Tropical Storm Noel Dominican Republic Situation Report No.2 Page 3 PAHO/WHO 50,000 USD their international counterparts. MAP international is UNDP 200,000 (recovery) providing urgent medical assistance. WFP 56 TM of HEB, resources to purchase 120 17. Technical and financial support TRAC 1.1.3 TM of rice, 48 TM of funds are being requested from UNDP-BCPR. A beans, 15 TM of oil, , and socio-economical damaged assessment is also being 90 TM of fortified corn proposed. flour USAID 100,000 USD PRIORITY NEEDS French Embassy 7,000 food bags Carrefour (Supermarket 5.000 food bags 18. Priority needs include water and sanitation, Company) food, shelter and personal hygiene items. An updated Government of Japan emergency relief list of priority needs, as presented by the National goods (tents, sleeping Authorities, is as follows: pads, blankets, water purifiers and plastic a. Environmental sanitation and water: sheets), equivalent to - Vector control about 13 million yen - 305,361 liters of water Red Cross through the 2,000 children food items - 25,300 trash bags IFRC 2,000 kitchen sets, 2,000 higiene kits, b. Food: 4000 mosquito nets - 43,623 cooked food rations 4000 water units - 6,801 liters of baby formula IFRC DREF (Disaster 230,000 CHF - 6,801 rations of baby food and cereals Relief Emergency Fund) c. Refuge/Housing/Electrical/Construction: 15. The Dominican Republic Red Cross will deploy - 7,271 mattresses 10 groups, with the assistance of the IFRC, to San - 7,271 sheets Cristobal, Bonao and West of Santo Domingo in - 6,336 mosquito nets order to evaluate damages and assist with search and rescue, medical emergencies and to clear debris. The d. Personal/hygiene needs: IFRC/PADRU has dispatched a plane with 42T of - 5,412 body soap humanitarian aid. - 5,412 rolls toilet paper - 4,360 tubes toothpaste 16. PAHO/WHO is supporting SESPAS in the - 2,004 diaper packages ages 2 to 5 installation of a Situation Room, as well as working - 4,053 tampons in three areas: water and sanitation, food supply, and - 1,215 pounds detergent in shelters. Seven teams are conducting evaluations - 873 gallons Clorox through out the country, including a team consisting - 1,722 brooms of the Ministry of Health with support of - 1,722 mops PAHO/WHO. e. Basic needs reported by the Secretary of State 17. UNICEF, Red Cross and SESPAS are supplying of Public Health and Sanitation Assistance food for children. Local NGOs are also working with (SESPAS): - 40 water purifiers Tropical Storm Noel Dominican Republic Situation Report No.2 Page 4 - 50,000 sheets - 50,000 mattresses f. Medicine (antipyretics, adult and children’s analgesics, oral rehydration salts, hypoglusemites, anti-hypertension medicine, and anti-rheumatoid medicine) - 30 minor surgery equipment packages - 8 pumps for water purification - 20 trauma stretchers - 20 Oxipac (portable oxygen units) - 100 portable halogen lamps - 100 gelatin batteries for communication - 1000 feet of 1.5” cord - 2000 bags for solid waste - 500 body bags - 20 first aid response kits for trauma, as well as gloves, gauze, bandages, etc. - 10 mobile communication radios (Motorola EM400) In-country contacts: 19. Possible suppliers who have provided items in previous emergencies: Comisión Nacional de Emergencia (CNE) - Plaza Lama: Tel(809) 687 9171; Fax: (809) Major General R. Luís A. Paulino, President of the 687 9445 CNE - Ferretería Americana.

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