Emergency Appeal
Operation no. MDRDM002
Date of Issue: 23 August 2016
Glide number: TC-2015-000119-DMA
Date of disaster: 27 August 2015
Operation start date: 10 September 2015
Operation end date: 10 April 2016
Host National Society: Dominica Red Cross Society
Operation budget: 889,493 Swiss francs (CHF)
Number of people affected: 28,000
Number of people assisted: 12,382 persons (3,000 families)
Situation Analysis
Description of the disaster
The island of Dominica sustained significant damage due to the passage of Tropical Storm Erika on Thursday, 27 August 2015. A band of torrential rain caused by the system resulted in 12.64 inches of rainfall in less than twelve hours and triggered massive flooding and several landslides. Regional governments and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) stepped in to help Dominica after recording the loss of lives.
According to CDEMA Situation Report No.101, approximately 1,070 users were without electricity and all 44 of the water systems in the country were affected, cutting off the water supply for the majority of the population. Telecommunication services were restored quickly and the 3 hospitals and 43 health centres remained operational. The main airport was closed as it suffered damages, but it was reopened and operational two weeks after the event. The Canefield airport, a secondary facility, remained operational for helicopter and small aircraft use.
The government of Dominica declared nine special disaster areas: Petite Savanne, Pichelin, Good Hope, Bath Estate (Paradise Valley), Dubique, Campbell, Coulibistrie, San Sauveur and Petite Soufriere. Fourteen people were reported dead, 16 missing, 574 rendered homeless and 1,034 people evacuated due to the unsafe conditions in their communities. Damage and losses were estimated at $1.3 billion East Caribbean dollars (XCD) (US$483 million) or 90 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
Initial damage assessments were conducted in 25 communities: Bath Estate, Canefield, River Estate, Campbell, Carib Territory, Checkhall, Colihaut, Coulibistrie, Delices, Good Hope, Layou, Mahaut, Massacre, Marigot, Mero, Macoucherie, Pichelin/Bagatelle, Petite Soufriere, Roseau South (Newtown, Loubiere), San Sauveur, Soufriere/Scottshead.
Detailed assessments took place in Pichelin/Bagatelle, Grand Bay, Checkhall, River Estate, Fond St. Jean and other communities