Summary:
Hurricane Tomas began affecting the Caribbean islands on 29 October 2010 as a strong tropical low-pressure area that quickly developed into a Tropical Storm and upgraded to Hurricane status by 31 October. It affected ten countries in the region. Flooding, landslides and infrastructure damage occurred across Saint Lucia, with the most affected regions being in the central and western parts the island. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was affected mostly in the north-eastern and north-western regions by flooding and landslides, and Barbados suffered damage to houses in five of its eleven parishes.
More than 2,000 families in all three islands received immediate support through provision of blankets, sleeping mats, tarpaulins and hygiene kits. This operation has provided safe shelter for 45 families in Barbados, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Nearly 10,000 families in Saint Lucia have benefitted from the provision of safe drinking water. Water was also provided to schools and health centres.