As
Hurricane Emily swept over the Windward Islands, it left a trail
of destruction in Grenada and Tobago, two of the islands still
recovering from last year’s damage caused by Hurricane
Ivan.
In Grenada, Emily, the fifth tropical storm of the Atlantic
season ripped off roofs and caused severe flooding in several
parishes including St Patrick, St Andrew, St David and the capital,
St George’s. At least 2,000 people had to be evacuated
and 1,408 were accommodated in 30 shelters.
In Tobago, approximately 500 people had to be evacuated just
before the heavy winds and rains lashed the island. Residents
from parts of north and east Tobago were moved into shelters
in L’Anse Fourmi, Golden Lane, Moriah and Belle Garden.
Ms Samantha Dickson, Health and Safety director at the Grenada
Red Cross (GRC) said that, even though Emily was not as bad
as Ivan, it still caused significant damage on the island. She
said there were no reports of casualties so far but there has
been substantial destruction to houses and other buildings.
Red Cross volunteers and staff are working at both the Red Cross
and government Emergency Operation Centres (EOC) to co-ordinate
relief efforts.
“We have volunteers in every parish and we are receiving
regular reports. People are also asking the Red Cross for assistance
in different areas and we are trying our best to help everyone.”
The storm destroyed the roof of the only hospital on Grenada’s
sister isle, Carriacou. In St George’s, Emily also blew
away the roof of the operating theatre and other wings at the
main hospital as well as the roofs of two police stations in
Grenville. “There is major flooding in some communities
and several institutions like the home for the elderly have
been flooded. We have been trying to evacuate those buildings,”
said Ms. Dickson.
In Tobago, there have been reports of mudslides and floods which
have cut off several communities. Roofs were also blown off.
In Trinidad, heavy rains caused flooding in all parts of the
country and the Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross (TTRC) offices
were flooded. Ms Lisa Lalsingh, TTRC Director general, said
the Red Cross was conducting assessments in various parts of
Trinidad and Tobago and mobilizing its volunteers to distribute
relief items.
The International Federation’s Pan American Disaster Response
Unit (PADRU) has mobilized delegates, ready to be deployed to
the Caribbean countries and relief stocks have been prepared
to be sent to the countries affected by Emily. The International
Federation is expected to launch an emergency appeal for those
countries affected by both Dennis and Emily.
Coming less than a week after Hurricane Dennis devastated the
Caribbean, causing death and destruction in Cuba, Jamaica and
Haiti, Emily remains a threat. Dennis, packing sustained winds
of more than 100 km/hr killed at least 20 people in Cuba and
in Haiti and drove hundreds of thousands from their homes. In
Jamaica, thousands of people were evacuated as roads were flooded.
Hurricane Ivan ripped through the Caribbean in September last
year with power and destruction unseen in the region in the
last ten years, causing at least 100 deaths and wreaking havoc
in the tiny islands of Grenada, Tobago, Barbados, St Lucia,
St Vincent and the Grenadines, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands
before making its way to Cuba and Florida.
In some areas, flood waters washed away small communities. The
economic impact on these countries is huge. Grenada suffered
the most with 90 percent of houses destroyed leaving 60,000
homeless. The Grenada Red Cross headquarters was also destroyed.
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Intense
hurricane Emily struck St. Vincent and the Grenadines
as a hurricane at about 15:00 GMT on 14 July. Photo: REUTERS/Courtesy
of www.alertnet.org
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