Informing humanitarians worldwide 24/7 — a service provided by UN OCHA

Cuba + 4 more

2008 hurricane season

At the season's mid-point, storms are rolling quickly through the Caribbean

By the end of the first week of September, Hurricanes Faye, Gustav and Hanna had made their way across the Caribbean, causing significant damage before striking various parts of the U.S. coast, from Louisiana to Florida to South Carolina. Although the storms varied in category (intensity) when they made landfall-their sustained winds were not the major cause of damage, rather, flooding was the culprit. In Haiti, in particular, the ground was already saturated by Faye when Gustav and Hanna struck in rapid succession.

To date, the storms of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season are reported to have caused a cumulative total of 99 deaths, 1020 injured, displaced a population of more than 80,000, and 72,000 are in temporary shelters. These figures are expected to rise as assessments continue to arrive from the field.

The country reports that follow chronicle the health impact of these disasters-from deaths and population displacement to water and sanitation and shelter management. Read more below on the situation in each country. Take special note of the important role played by two Emergency Operations Centers established several years ago in Haiti.

Situation Reports

CUBA

Ike

September 9. Hurricane Ike is pounding the eastern side of Cuba, and there is a Hurricane warning throughout the country. More than four inches of rain has been reported in the East. The rain will continue through the day in the rest of the country. Hurricane-force winds are affecting the Provinces of Holguin, Las Tunas and Camaguey. It is expected the Ciego de Avila, Sancti Spíritus, Villa Clara, Cienfuegos, and Matanzas will suffer the same fate tomorrow.

Gustav and Hanna

Hurricane Gustav was the strongest storm to hit Cuba in 50 years, in terms of severity of winds (category 4-5 hurricane) and damage to agriculture and infrastructure.

Remarkably, there were no reported deaths, thanks to massive evacuation efforts on the part of national authorities. The latest figures indicate that 250,000 people were evacuated, including 77,092 in Havana, 25,000 in Southern Matanzas, and 147,994 in Pinar del Río province. More than 90,000 houses were damaged.

There has been heavy damage reported to health facilities throughout the country. Serious floods affected the Isle of Youth, and dialysis patients had to be evacuated to Havana due to the damage to health facilities. Medical teams are on standby. PAHO/WHO is in contact with the Ministry of Health and the U.N. team in the country.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

On August 26, the government declared a red alert for Hurricane Gustav in 19 of its 32 provinces. The province of Pedernales, on the southern tip of the border with Haiti, was almost totally evacuated.

8 deaths were reported following a mudslide that buried their home in Santo Domingo. 1,239 homes were damaged and 12 destroyed. 2,103 were housed in shelters during the storm.

Significant damage to agriculture sector was reported and the South West areas of the country was on the alert for flooding from TS Hanna. Meteorologists predict more rain across much of the country in the next three weeks.Meteorologists predict more rain across much of the country in the next three weeks.Meteorologists predict more rain across much of the country in the next three weeks.

HAITI

Ike

Hurricane Ike, which passed near Haiti only four days after Hurricane Hanna and less than two weeks after Hurricane Gustav, worsened the situation in Gonaïves, where many districts were under water. Hundreds of houses have been destroyed. Authorities had evacuated the population (approximately 12,000 people) to shelters in higher ground before the arrival of the storm. Emergency health care centers were also set up to receive casualties. As part of the an emergency appeal, Haiti has requested several kits of the Inter-Agency Health Kit.

Gustav and Hanna

Hurricane Gustav made landfall on August 26 near the city of Jacamel as a Category 1 Hurricane. There are ten Emergency Operations Centers in Haiti at the departmental level. Of these, PAHO/WHO supports the management and activities of four of these (read more about how these EOCs were established in 2006). Two of the four (in Les Cayes and Hinche) remained open round-the clock during Hurricane Gustav providing information to the central EOC in Port-au-Prince.

Gustav fell in between two other storms, and the flooding in Haiti was the result of the three almost back-to-back events which included including Faye (August 16) and Hanna, the most recent event (September 2).

Official tolls (according to DPC--Haiti Civil Defense Protection) of the impact to date: 79 deaths and according to the Civil Protection 50,000 people are in shelters. These figures are expected to rise as assessments are still ongoing.

The situation in Gonaives, the hardest hit city in Haiti, is serious, but assessments continue to be hampered by the bad weather and blocked roads. Flooding has been reported in nine of the ten departments in the country. Access to drinking water is a problem.

Health Situation

To date, there are 79 reported deaths in Haiti and more than 1,000 minor injuries have been treated by the various mobile clinics and health centers that remain open. While presently there is no general shortage of drugs, many have lost their livelihoods and therefore have no money with which to purchase medicines. Access to free medications is only available through NGOs and aid agencies.

The hospital in St Marc (a small hospital on the coast, south of Gonaives) is functioning as the regional referral hospital for the department of Artibonite, as the hospital in Gonaives is unusable because of the floods. In fact, virtually the entire health system in the Department is not functioning, as most health centers have also been severely affected. Those few that are still functioning are being supplied with medicines by PAHO/WHO. In Gonaives, 18 patients had to be evacuated from the flooded hospital; all stocks were destroyed. Mobile clinics have been set in operation serving the area between Gonaives and Port-au- Paix.

PAHO/WHO is in daily contact with all health actors in Haiti and has facilitated logistical aspects of some of the field assessment missions. PAHO has also maintained stocks of medical kits and has pre-positioned medical and surgical supplies in the northwest Departments.

JAMAICA

After passing Haiti, Hurricane Gustav hit Jamaica with 70 mph winds. Emergency Operations Centers were activated at national, regional and parish level, and 37 Shelters were prepared in the Eastern parishes of St. Anne, St. Thomas and Portland. On August 30, more than 800 people were reported to be in shelters. There have been 12 confirmed deaths. Approximately 72 communities have been affected, particularly from flash floods and storm surges.

The Victoria Jubilee Hospital, Bellevue Hospital and Port Antonio Hospital reported damage from the winds and rain. Currently, recovery activities are underway. All health systems are functioning, although two hospitals remain without electricity.

Flooding continues to be a major problem, and the water supply affected. PAHO/WHO deployed an LSS/SUMA and a Disaster Specialist to Jamaica.

TURKS AND CAICOS

Ike

8 September - Hurricane Ike impacted Turks and Caicos as a Category four Hurricane over the weekend. A Hurricane Warning for remains in effect for the Islands. Initial reports indicate that there is extensive flooding across the Islands. A hospital in Grand Turk suffered significant damage. Close to 95% of the houses in Grand Turk have sustained damages (60% severe damage). There is no electricity and the telephone lines are not working. There are no reports of deaths, missing or injuries as of yet.

Hanna

Hurricane Hanna caused heavy flooding in the five islands. No deaths have been reported; however 800 people had to move to shelters. The Ministry of Health requested PAHO/WHO that a water and sanitation expert be mobilized.