Post Impact Report #3 - Hurricane Lenny

DAMAGE ASSESSMENT TEAMS AT WORK IN AFFECTED STATES

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Following on the decision to assist countries in expediting their respective damage assessment process, Regional Teams have been deployed to the affected States. Funding for this effort was made possible by the Eastern Caribbean Donors Group as provided for in their Operations Order. The CDERA Coordinating Unit is coordinating this effort on behalf of the Group and will serve as the information-clearing house for receiving and disseminating information from the field.

2.0 PRELIMINARY REPORTS

The Coordinating Unit has received the following preliminary reports from the teams deployed in the field:

Antigua

a. The disaster authorities conducted a preliminary aerial reconnaissance of the island of Antigua using the helicopter which provides the Montserrat/Antigua air link. The team included the Hon. Bernard Walker, Minister of Urban development and Renewal, National Disaster Coordinator, Mrs. Patricia Julian, representatives of the ABDF, Health Services and the Media. Their observations were:

• Water level in pond situated north of airport had risen significantly.
• Club Antigua, Runaway Bay, Sandals Hotels flooded.
• Road sections washed out.
• Severe beach erosion.
• Mud slides in Crabb Hill, Orange Valley and Boggy Peak areas.
• The damages observed were as a result of water with little wind damage.

b. The following report was received from the National Office of Disaster Services compiled from preliminary assessment conducted by the National Damage Assessment Teams which include regional agencies such as PAHO, OFDA, CDERA and private sector engineers.

The preliminary report includes the following information:

• The road surfaces of primary and secondary roads washed away
• One major bridge collapsed cutting road communication with southern part of the island of Antigua
• Main pipelines of Antigua water system broken
• Follies water pumping station damaged (supplies southern Antigua) - an estimate 20000 persons without safe drinking water
• Stagnant water, increased mosquitoes

Officials of Government Agencies have agreed upon the need of some emergency assistance as follows:

Health

• Immediate repair to the major pipelines broken
• Rehabilitation of the pumping station
• Purging of all major water supply pipelines and startup chlorination to disinfect the network
• General cleanup, sanitation, de-watering of stagnant water from public institutions and households
• Vector control campaign

Emergency items identified as immediate needs are:

*Authorisation to use supplies in warehouse required
blue items - provided by PAHO

Barbuda

An Assessment Team which visited the Barbuda yesterday (23 Novemeber) has submitted the following report through the National Office of Disaster Services.

• 65% of island under water
• roads severely damaged, with interior almost inaccessible due to soft soil
• mosquito and yellow belly black flies infestation
• residents unable to access their properties
• ground water supply contaminated
• 95% of agricultural industry destroyed (peanuts, vegetables, corn, coconuts)
• cisterns contaminated
• waste disposal problems - leachate in dumpsite leaking into water supply and into lagoon
  fishing and environmental sectors being assessed - report available November 25.

Emergency items identified as immediate needs are:

*Authorisation to use supplies in warehouse required
blue items - provided by PAHO

Long Term Recommendations

1. Planning controls (development control/zoning) needs to be put in place
2. Improved water distribution system needed

St. Kitts

The National Emergency Management Agency submitted the following preliminary damage assessment report for the island of St. Kitts. The assessment in Nevis is ongoing.

The urban areas, coastal communities, ports, sea defenses and road network suffered severe damage from flooding and wave action. The International Airport sustained no damages and normal operations resumed on Saturday, November 20, 1999.

The assessment in the agricultural and fisheries sectors is not yet complete.

The Hotel plant suffered water damage except Bird Rock Hotel which had extensive structural damage and flooding.

Flooding, wave action and high winds affected approximately 216 homes (families).

The total cost of the damages incurred in St. Kitts has been put at EC$111,844,000.00 or US$41,423,704.00. A detailed report which breaks down the respective costs by sectors is available at the CDERA.

Anguilla

The Disaster Preparedness Office in Anguilla has provided he following Damage Assessment Report and cost estimates. A total of 30 families were affected by flooding during the event.

The Tourist Sector is in the process of assessing damages to the hotel plant. A preliminary estimate of EC$135,000,000 has already been assessed.

The Government has set up a committee to review support for rehabilitation of housing.