Code red!
THE grim reality facing Dominica following the passage of Hurricane Maria has been described by Hartley Henry, prin-cipal advisor to Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, in a detailed message identifying the current state and immediate needs of the ravaged island.
He said while it is difficult to determine the level of fatalities, so far seven are confirmed dead as a direct result of the hurricane. “That figure, the Prime Minister fears, will rise as he wades his way into the rural communities today (Wednesday).”
In spite of limited communication, Henry was able to send out a message at 4:30 a.m. yesterday, saying that he had just spoken to the Prime Minister via satellite phone. “He and family are fine.”
He stressed, however, that Dominica is in trouble. Giving an assessment of ground zero, Henry said: “Tremendous loss of housing and public buildings. The main general hospital took a beating. Patient care has been compromised. Many buildings serving as shelters lost roofs, which means that a very urgent need now is tarpaulins and other roofing materials.”
Henry explained that at that time little contact was made with the outer communities, but persons who walked ten and 15 miles towards the city of Roseau from various outer districts, report total destruction of homes, some roadways and crops.
To this end, the advisor made an urgent call for helicopter services, which he said are needed to take food, water and tarpaulins to outer districts for shelter.
“Canefield Airport can accommodate helicopter landings and it is expected that from today (Wednesday), the waters around the main Roseau port will be calm enough to accommodate vessels bringing relief supplies and other forms of assistance.”
The tarmac at Melville Hall [Airport] was not too badly damaged, so the strip should be opened in a day or two for larger relief planes to land.
Henry explained that the urgent needs at present are roofing materials for shelters, bedding supplies for hundreds stranded in or outside what’s left of their homes, and food and water drops for residents of outlying districts inaccessible at the moment.
The advisor added that the Prime Minister is hoping to make contact with ABS Radio in Antigua to speak directly to the outer world as to the state of Dominica and its urgent needs.
“The country is in a daze – no electricity, no running water – as a result of uprooted pipes in most communities and definitely to landline or cell phone services on island, and that will be for quite a while.
“In summary, the island has been devastated. The housing stock significantly damaged or destroyed. All available public buildings are being used as shelters, with very limited roofing materials evident.
“The country needs the support and continued help and prayers of all,” he said.