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USAID Assists Latin America and Caribbean During 2007 Hurricane Season

September 12, 2007

Street Corner in Kingston, Jamaica one day after Hurricane Dean Traffic light down in Kingston one day after Hurricane Dean

KEY DEVELOPMENTS

• On September 8 and 9, USAID/OFDA delivered emergency relief supplies to Puerto Cabezas, in the North Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAN) of Nicaragua, via three airlifts, including one by a U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) C-130 cargo plane. USAID/OFDA coordinated the distribution of relief supplies with local authorities, DOD officials, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), Catholic Relief Services (CRS), and the Nicaraguan Red Cross (NRC). The relief supplies, which included 580 rolls of plastic sheeting, 875 blankets, and 480 hygiene kits, have been distributed in 11 municipalities in RAAN. The relief supplies also included 1,000 tenliter water containers, which U.S. military personnel delivered filled with water to four municipalities in RAAN, and 100 body bags, which were delivered to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The USAID/OFDA emergency relief commodities are valued at $296,714, including transport.
• DOD continues to provide air support in Puerto Cabezas to transport emergency relief supplies and humanitarian staff to affected areas. As of September 12, two helicopters and ground staff continue to support a multi-national airlift in RAAN.

Latin America and the Caribbean Hurricane Season 2007 Fact Sheet #7- September 12, 2007 (pdf, 70kb)
Latin America and the Caribbean Hurricane Season 2007 Map #7 - September 12, 2007 (pdf, 351kb)

NUMBERS AT A GLANCE*

*Numbers may increase in countries affected by Hurricane Felix.
¹ Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) ² National System for Disaster Prevention, Mitigation, and Assistance (SINAPRED) ³ Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA) ⁴ U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA) ⁵ The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) ⁶ The Government of Jamaica’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM)

FY 2007 HUMANITARIAN FUNDING PROVIDED TO DATE

USAID/OFDA Assistance to Belize:    $161,954
USAID/OFDA Assistance to Dominica:     $85,648
USAID/OFDA Assistance to Honduras:    $25,000
USAID/OFDA Assistance to Jamaica:    $572,244
USAID/OFDA Assistance to Mexico:    $249,957
USAID/OFDA Assistance to Nicaragua:    $1,170,296
USAID/OFDA Assistance to St. Lucia:    $40,432
Total USAID Humanitarian Assistance to Latin America and the Caribbean for Hurricanes:    $2,305,531
DOD Assistance to Nicaragua:    $1,500,000
Total DOD Humanitarian Assistance to Latin America and the Caribbean for Hurricane Felix:    $1,500,000
Total USG Humanitarian Assistance to Latin America and the Caribbean for Hurricanes:    $3,805,531

CURRENT SITUATION

Nicaragua

• As of September 10, SINAPRED reported that Hurricane Felix destroyed approximately 9,860 houses and blew away the roofs of nearly 6,800 others, as well as damaged approximately 150 public buildings in Alamikamba, Bonanza, Puerto Cabezas, Rosita, San Andrés de Bocay, and Waspam municipalities in RAAN and Jinotega Department. In addition, flooding associated with the hurricane damaged approximately 12,000 latrines, which in turn contaminated an estimated 9,000 nearby wells.
• SINAPRED reported that needs in affected areas include food, shelter, safe drinking water, restoration of medical services, and rehabilitation of roads.
• USAID emergency team members conducted assessments in Awastara, Auhya Pihni, and Tuapi municipalities on September 8 and 9. The team concurred with the broader SINAPRED assessment, identifying shelter, medical supplies, and safe drinking water as immediate needs.
• On September 9, a commercial flight airlifted 2,000 water containers to Puerto Cabezas. NRC purchased the containers with USAID/OFDA funds.
• As of September 12, members of the USAID emergency team remain deployed to Puerto Cabezas to conduct damage and needs assessments in affected areas and monitor the distribution of essential relief supplies in coordination with the DOD.

  Honduras

• On September 7, representatives from U.N. agencies and the Government of Honduras’ Permanent Commission on Emergencies (COPECO) convened a meeting with donors and humanitarian organizations to review priority needs in affected departments, coordinate humanitarian assistance, and assess local and international preparedness and capacity to respond to a potential wide-scale disaster.
• Although several communities in Gracias a Dios Department and the Sula Valley continue to experience localized disaster conditions, COPECO has lifted all alerts throughout the country, and the COPECO National Commissioner indicated that the local organizations have the capacity to meet ongoing needs.

  USG HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

  • USAID pre-positioned 23 disaster response specialists in Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Belize, and Mexico in advance of Hurricane Felix. USAID/OFDA also provided $75,000 to support emergency preparedness activities in Nicaragua, Belize, and Honduras. Prior to hurricane season, USAID pre-positioned approximately $45,000 in relief supplies with NRC to respond to emergency needs.
  • Since 2000, USAID has provided more than $142 million in response to the devastating effects of hurricanes and tropical storms throughout Central America and the Caribbean, prior to the current hurricane season.

    Belize

  • On August 23, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Leonard A. Hill declared a disaster in Belize due to the impact of Hurricane Dean. In response, USAID/OFDA provided $50,000 through the U.S. Embassy in Belize for the purchase and transport of emergency relief supplies to hurricane-affected northern Belize. In addition, USAID/OFDA airlifted relief commodities including plastic sheeting, blankets, hygiene kits, and chainsaws for debris removal valued at nearly $87,000, including transport. A USAID emergency team in Belize conducted assessments and identified needs in conjunction with the Government of Belize (GOB).
  • In anticipation of Hurricane Felix’s impact, USAID/OFDA provided $25,000 in preparedness assistance to support emergency relief activities in Belize. USAID/OFDA also pre-positioned six disaster specialists to work with the U.S. Embassy in Belmopan and the GOB to assess the storm’s impact and possible humanitarian needs.

    Dominica and St. Lucia

  • On August 23, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Clyde I. Howard declared a disaster in Dominica and St. Lucia due to the effects of Hurricane Dean. In response, USAID/OFDA provided $25,000 through the U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown to the Dominica Office of Disaster Management for the local purchase and transport of emergency shelter repair materials to affected areas. Two USAID disaster specialists deployed to Dominica and St. Kitts to assess hurricane-related damage. On August 24, USAID/OFDA airlifted plastic sheeting to help meet shelter needs on both islands. The total value of the plastic sheeting including transport was approximately $101,000.

    El Salvador

  • In advance of Hurricane Felix, USAID deployed one disaster specialist to work with USAID/El Salvador, the U.S. Embassy in San Salvador, and the Government of El Salvador to assess the storm’s impact and possible humanitarian needs.

    Guatemala

  • In advance of Hurricane Felix, USAID deployed three disaster specialists to work with USAID/Guatemala, the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala City, and the Government of Guatemala to assess the storm’s impact and possible humanitarian needs.

    Honduras

  • In anticipation of Hurricane Felix’s impact, USAID provided $25,000 in preparedness assistance to USAID/Honduras to support emergency relief activities. From September 4 to 8, a seven-member USAID emergency team worked with USAID/Honduras, the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa, and the Government of Honduras to assess emergency needs.

    Jamaica

  • On August 20, U.S. Ambassador Brenda LaGrange Johnson declared a disaster due to the damage caused by Hurricane Dean. In response, USAID/OFDA dispatched relief commodities including plastic sheeting, blankets, 10-liter water containers, and hygiene kits valued at more than $297,000 including transport. In addition, USAID/OFDA provided $275,000 to support emergency health services and for the purchase of additional emergency relief supplies. From August 16 to 25, a USAID six-member assessment team supported emergency response efforts. One disaster specialist remains in Jamaica to help monitor relief programs.

    Mexico

  • On August 27, U.S. Ambassador Antonio O. Garza, Jr. requested USAID/OFDA assistance in Mexico due to the effects of Hurricane Dean. In response, USAID/OFDA provided nearly $250,000 through the American Red Cross to the Mexican Red Cross for the local purchase and transport of roof repair materials to affected areas. USAID/OFDA’s assistance is benefiting 4,000 hurricane-affected families in Quintana Roo State. In advance of Hurricane Dean, USAID deployed six disaster specialists to work with USAID/Mexico, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, and the Government of Mexico (GOM) to assess the storm’s impact and possible humanitarian needs.
  • In advance of Hurricane Felix, USAID deployed four disaster specialists to work with USAID/Mexico, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, and GOM authorities to assess the storm’s impact and possible humanitarian needs.

    Nicaragua

  • On September 5, U.S. Ambassador Paul A. Trivelli declared a disaster due to the effects of Hurricane Felix. In response, USAID/OFDA has provided $675,000 to support emergency programs for affected populations and funding for local purchase of essential supplies. USAID/OFDA has also delivered 820 rolls of plastic sheeting, 3,552 hygiene kits, 3,875 blankets, 1,000 ten-liter water containers, and 100 body bags from the USAID/OFDA warehouse in Miami to Puerto Cabezas via five airlifts. The total value of emergency relief supplies, including transport, is $495,296.
  • As of September 12, a 10-person USAID assessment team remains in Nicaragua coordinating hurricane response activities with U.N. agencies, DOD, Government of Nicaragua (GON) authorities, and non-governmental organizations. USAID emergency assessments are ongoing to determine what additional assistance is needed.
  • DOD is assisting relief efforts in Nicaragua through air support for assessments and the delivery of essential relief supplies to affected areas.

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