Hurricane Matthew, an overview of comprehensive action during and after the emergency
Hurricane Matthew tested readiness levels of Caribbean countries’ health services and their staff, as well as the technical capacity of PAHO/WHO for mobilization and response.
The Category 5 hurricane put thousands of people at risk in Cuba, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and the United States, and Colombia.
PAHO/WHO continuously monitored the situation, keeping in touch with the health authorities and with their counterparts in the Region, to be aware of the support, readiness, and response actions. The resources mobilized by PAHO allowed for the deployment of 80 experts in logistics; in the coordination of emergency medical teams (EMTs); in damage assessment and needs analysis; in water, sanitation, and hygiene; and in health response coordination.
PAHO lead health coordination efforts ensuring the supply of drinking water and uninterrupted medical services—including the distribution of equipment and essential supplies—in the affected areas.
From Tropical Storm to Hurricane
On 28 September 2016 a strong tropical wave was reported, located near Barbados, producing winds of 40-45 miles per hour (mph), as the storm system moved through the Lesser Antilles.
Preparedness and response measures included, in Barbados, activation of the National Emergency Operations Centre and the opening of 20 shelters. In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital went into emergency operations mode. In Saint Lucia, communication with the population was intensified. On 29 September, there were reports of evacuees, some power outages, and floods.
On 4 October, Matthew—now a Category 4 hurricane—made landfall near Les Anglais, Haiti, with winds of up to 145 mph. Consequently, an alert went into effect for Haiti, the Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and Cuba. It was reported that 601,241 people were in shelters in the affected areas.
In the Bahamas, PAHO supported the Ministry of Health in the evaluation of needs for the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre, the Princess Margaret Hospital, the South Beach Health Centre, and the Anne’s Town Clinic.
In Cuba 320,00 people were evacuated and 44 health facilities were damaged. In response, 30 EMTs were deployed to risk areas, continued epidemiological surveillance and the provision of supplies for health services and water quality were ensured, as well as the rehabilitation of health centers, including the restocking of equipment and essential supplies. Jamaica reported 900 people in shelters. Hospitals were open for emergencies only. The Ministry of Health implemented health monitoring systems with regard to water quality, sanitation, food security, and disease surveillance. The Dominican Republic put its 31 provinces bordering Haiti on red alert. There were 366 official shelters activated, and 35,000 families were affected. Colombia reported 15,000 affected families, especially in the departments of La Guajira, Magdalena, César, Bolívar, and Atlántico.
Haiti
In Haiti, more than 750,000 people were left in need of international assistance after the passage of Matthew. More than two million were directly or indirectly affected. Approximately 50% of the health infrastructure was affected. Out of 15 hospitals, one was completely evacuated and five were inaccessible. Furthermore, 75% of Acute Diarrhea Treatment Centers (CDTA) were damaged.
PAHO Haiti activated its Emergency and Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan, set up a situation room, and deployed two logistics experts and a health coordination expert.
PAHO/WHO working priorities in the field focused on supporting the Ministry of Health, on access to medical care and drinking water, and on health and hygiene conditions, in addition to the recovery and strengthening of health services.
During the response phase in Haiti, two field offices were set up in Jérémie and in Les Cayes to support the delivery of basic medical supplies and equipment, and the transfer of experts to the field. More than 1.5 million doses of cholera vaccine were distributed, targeting approximately 800,000 people. In December 2016, PAHO/WHO estimated that the needs of the health sector for rehabilitation and resiliency measures would total US$ 230 million.