1.0   THE EVENT

The following is an update on the impact of Hurricane Georges as it passed over the islands of the Northeastern Caribbean on September 20 - 21, 1998 between late Sunday night and continuing into Monday morning with maximum sustained winds was 115 mph with higher gusts of up 150 mph.

At 1400 hours a weakened Hurricane George was located at 19.5 degrees North and 74.7 degrees West. Maximum winds are 75 mph with higher gusts. A hurricane warning is in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands and Central and South Eastern Bahamas Islands. A tropical storm warning is in effect for Jamaica.

2.0   IMPACT

The most significantly affected CDERA Participating States are St. Kitts-Nevis and Antigua and Barbuda. Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts-Nevis, Montserrat, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands were mildly affected. An impact summary for St. Kitts-Nevis and Antigua and Barbuda is attached.

3.0   RESPONSE (National)

3.1   St. Kitts-Nevis

The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has carried out an initial assessment of damage which is being used to refine its needs. The Prime Minister of St. Kitts-Nevis, Dr. the Honourable Denzil Douglas addressed the nation last night to provide an assessment of the damage done and to encourage the building process.

3.2   Antigua and Barbuda

Assessments of damage is still being undertaken and attendance to emergency relief needs as far as possible.

4.0   RESPONSE (Regional and International)

The Rapid Assessment Team is assessing the situation in St. Kitts-Nevis and Antigua. The Caribbean Disaster Relief Unit (CDRU) is also providing assistance in coordination of the emergency response efforts in these countries.

A list of assistance pledged or provided is attached.

6.0   NEEDS

A Needs List for Saint Kitts-Nevis and Antigua and Barbuda is attached.

7.0   REQUESTS

External assistance is being solicited by St. Kitts-Nevis and Antigua and Barbuda.

The CDERA Coordinating Unit continues to monitor Hurricane Georges. The CDERA Coordinating Unit and the Regional Response Mechanism remains on full alert and standby. The Unit is continuing regular dialogue with the emergency and political officials in the affected States and continues to monitor the threat of Georges to other Participating States.

HURRICANE GEORGES - SUMMARY OF ASSISTANCE PLEDGED/PROVIDED

DONOR	ASSISTANCE PLEDGED/PROVIDED	REMARKS
CDERA PARTICIPATING STATES
CDERA Coordinating Unit	Support to EOC in St Kitts. 400 boxes plastic sheeting Personnel assistance Antigua and Barbuda and St. Kitts-Nevis	Personnel deployed Dispatched Some already provided
Barbados	480 boxes MREs 4 boxes plastic sheeting	Dispatched Dispatched
Guyana	Human and material assistance for the reconstruction/response efforts Assistance in the restoration of power to Antigua and Barbuda.
Jamaica	Technical personnel to assist Antigua and Barbuda.	Personnel deployed
Saint Lucia	Team of technicians to assist with restoration of power.	Engineer to do assess- ment dispatched
Montserrat	Helicopters from Bajan Helicopters to assist with the response efforts.	Being provided
Trinidad and Tobago	12 Technicians to support Antigua and Barbuda in the restoration of power.
REGIONAL PRIVATE SECTOR AND NGOS
Barbados Bottling Company	Twenty 55 gallon containers of drinking water	Dispatched
Pure Water Inc	20-40 Five gallon boxes of water
CARILEC	Assessment Team to assist with defining support to Nevis, Dutch St Maarten and Antigua and Barbuda
FOREIGN (NON-CDERA) GOVERNMENTS
British Government	Helicopters from Bajan Helicopters to assist with the response efforts	Being provided
MULTILATERAL AGENCIES
UNDP	Personnel for assessment	Deployed
CIDA	Engineer for assessment	Deployed
FAO	Personnel for assessment	Deployed
PAHO	SUMA team to St Kitts-Nevis and Antigua and Barbuda to assist with relief supply management	Deployed
USAID	Three-man team to assist with assessment and satellite phone capability	Deployed

Damage and Needs assessments are still being undertaken in the affected countries, however the following preliminary reports have been provided by National Disaster Offices in the Participating States.

Type/Sector	Summary of Damage	Recovery/ Rehabilitation Needs	Detailed Immediate Needs List
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
General			Chain Saws 25 Tents 100 Cots 300 Sleeping Mats 300 Plastic Sheeting 150 Boxes Water Bladder 10 Blankets 200 Bales 5 Gals Water Bottles 150 Boxes Dry Foodstuff Canned Foodstuff Flashlights 600 Batteries 1000 Rain Coats 150 First Aid Kits 20 Hard Hats 100 Cutlasses 150 Free Chlorine Reagent Flourescent Lamps Chlorine Test Kits Water Purification Tablets 10 Cases Eye Drops (Sofradex or Equivalent) Eye Ointment (Chloramphenicol) Assorted Bandages Generators - 6kva 10 15kva 10 Water Gloves 50 Pairs Leather Water Gloves 50 Pairs Rubbers Water Boots 100 ( Sizes: 9,10,11) 12 - 25 Pairs Each Electricity Repair Crew Public Heath Doctor/Epidermitologist
Casualties	2 person dead, 2 injured
Health	Ward Mental Hospital significantly damaged. Annex buildings to Health center also damaged.	Construction materials for repair. Public Health Doctor and Epidermitologist
Housing	1650 dwellings adversely affected, 150 of these totally destroyed	Construction materials fro rebuilding and repair.
Water	Disrupted
Electricity	Disrupted	Assistance for restoration
Telecommunications	Disrupted	Assistance for restoration
Education	3 schools damaged (1 extensively)	Materials for repair and reconstruction
Public Buildings	All Saints Police Station damaged	Materials for repair and reconstruction
Public Works (roads, bridges etc)	Roads blocked by falling trees and poles, efforts initiated to clear.
Air and Sea Ports	Airport runway initially blocked, now cleared and operating between 0600 to 1700 each day	Lighting system to be assessed to facilitate return to normal function
Businesses	15% reported minor damages
Agriculture
Tourism
Estimated Cost of Damage
ST. KITTS-NEVIS
Casualties	1 person dead, 2 injured		Emergency sheltter material for 3,000 persons to include: 1. Bottled Water 2. 3000 Blankets 3. 130 (20' x 40') Tents 4. Plastic Sheeting 5. Chainsaws In addition: 6. 12 Lines Crewmen to assist with reconstruction
Health	Approx. damage estimated at US $4.5 million. JNF General Hospital extensively damaged. Only outpatient wing functional. The Pogson Hospital and the Mary Charles Hospital sustained roof loss. Health Centers also damaged
Housing	Damage estimated at US $1.5 million 80-85% affected, 20-25% of this completely destroyed	Roofing and construction materials urgently needed.
Water	Approx. US $37,000 in damage. Minor damage, some to transmission systems. Electrical supply to pumps to be restored in a few days.
Electricity	Approx. US $4 million in damage. Roof damage to plant. Building will need complete replacement. Water damage to generators. Several lines/poles down	Building to be constructed.
Telecommunications	Approx. US $550,000 in damage. Very little damage to main infrastructure. Main damage to transmission lines.
Education	Damage estimated at US 6.4 million. All schools severely damaged. Sever roof, furniture and equipment loss.
Public Buildings	US $20.4 million estimated in damage. All Police Stations suffered major damage. Defence Force loss to buildings and stocks, other Gov't buildings also damaged. Football facility, Main cricktet pavilion, Carnival Village, Netball complex and other sporting facilities damaged.
Public Works (roads, bridges etc)
Air and Sea Ports	Damage estimated at US $9.3 million The main port at Basseterre suffered roof loss to two transit sheds resulting in cargo loss. Damage to equipment at berth negligible. At Port Zante, cat walks and two berthing platforms destroyed. At airport, roof of control tower removed resulting in damages. Transit sheds, fire hall, maintenance sheds significantly damaged.
Businesses	Approx. US $9.3 million in damage. 35% roof damage to commercial buildings island wide. 55% of industrial buildings damaged. Recovery time expected in 2 to 4 weeks.
Agriculture	Approx. damage US $8.4 million. 50% loss of 1999 sugar harvest. Extensive damage to buildings. Estimate of non sugar agric. Not available.
Tourism	US $17 million in damage to buildings and support services. This includes loss of income for 2300 persons. Two hotels can open in three weeks but most tourism plant expected to be closed for the next two months.
General Economic Impact and Clean Up	Estimated at US $38.2 million
Estimated Cost of Damage	US $445 million (This represents both direct and indirect losses)

CARIBBEAN DISASTER EMERGENCY RESPONSE AGENCY
The Garrison, St. Micheal
Barbados
TEL: (246) 436-9651
FAX: (246) 437-7649
E-mail: CDERA@Caribsurf.com

Copyright © 1996 CDERA