Saint Lucia: Red Cross reponds to devastation caused by Hurricane Tomas

As Hurricane Tomas passed over the Antilles, it brought heavy rains and sustained winds of more than 90 miles to Saint Lucia. The hurricane has caused severe damage to hundreds of homes and public infrastructure such as hospitals, road networks, water pipes, and electricity and telephone cables. Official reports put the death toll at five, with five people are still missing.

Staff and volunteers of the Saint Lucia Red Cross have been active since the storm alert was issued. The team has continued to deliver relief items to affected people and is carrying out damage and needs assessments to guide the relief efforts. However, several landslides triggered by Hurricane Tomas have severely damaged road networks, making assessments difficult and hampering access to affected communities.

“The damage caused by Hurricane Tomas in Saint Lucia is extremely frightening, especially in the interior of the island”, says Marva Edward-Oculien of the Saint Lucia Red Cross. “The town of Soufrière, for example, has suffered massive landslides from the surrounding mountains, and is inaccessible by land. Access to Soufrière at the moment is only possible by sea,” she adds.

Despite such difficulties, the Saint Lucia Red Cross -- with the support of its national intervention team and community disaster response teams – is currently providing assistance to displaced people who have taken up temporary residence in community shelters.

The teams are also carrying out relief distributions to some of the affected communities, providing people with essential items such as hygiene kits, kitchen sets, blankets, tarpaulins, buckets, jerry cans and basic clothing. The teams haves also distributed water.

“One of the key requirements we have identified is the need for water. Roseau Damn, which is the main source of water for the entire north of the island, is severely damaged,” explains Edward-Oculien.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has deployed a disaster management delegate to help assess damage in the Antilles. At the moment, five communities around the island, including Soufrière, have already received immediate relief items.

The Saint Lucia Red Cross is also providing a family links service to affected families. A number of families have already benefited from this valuable service, including a woman and her 98-year-old mother.