DECLARATION OF DISASTER: DOMINICA AND ST. LUCIA

UNCLAS BRIDGETOWN 001060 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR SAN JOSE FOR USAID/OFDA-CALLAGHAN AND LEONARD USAID FOR DCHA/OFDA-THAYER AND LAC/AA GENEVA FOR N.KYLOH, USUN FOR T.MALY, SECDEF FOR SOLIC, JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC FOR J3/J4/J5, NSC FOR P.MARCHAM E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC CASC EAID ST DO XL SUBJECT: DECLARATION OF DISASTER: DOMINICA AND ST. LUCIA ¶1. As a result of the passage of Hurricane Dean on August 16/17 the Chief of Mission has determined that the disaster is beyond the capability of the governments of St. Lucia and the Commonwealth of Dominica to respond, is of sufficient magnitude to warrant U.S. government assistance, and is in the best interest of the U.S. government to respond. The Chief of Mission is therefore exercising the disaster assistance authority. ¶2. A hurricane has occurred and affected both St. Lucia and Dominica beginning during the night hours of August 16 and continuing until the evening of August 17. According to damage assessments from the host governments, USG disaster specialists on-site, and the Caribbean Disaster and Emergency Agency (CDERA),there has been widespread destruction in the agricultural sectors of both countries plus considerable damage to the housing stock and other infrastructure. Early assessments state that damage to housing and related infrastructure in St. Lucia exceeds ECD 800,000 (USD 320,000) and at least five hundred (500) homes in Dominica have been heavily damaged. ¶3. The Ambassador's authority for emergency assistance will be used to provide the following relief: For St. Lucia, the immediate supply of fifty (50) rolls of plastic sheeting to the National Emergency Management Organization; For Dominica, seventy-five (75) rolls of plastic sheeting donated to the Office of Disaster Management plus USD 25,000 for the local procurement of emergency shelter repair materials. ¶4. Additional funds may be required for additional infrastructure repair and recovery of the hard-hit agricultural sectors. The extent of these needs and the potential for response will be assessed as soon as possible. ¶5. Official request for U.S. assistance has been made by the St. Lucia National Emergency Management Organization in communications to OFDA/LAC and USAID/Barbados and from the Commonwealth of Dominica Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Embassy Bridgetown. ¶6. Host country agencies involved in relief operations are the above mentioned National Emergency Management Agency (St. Lucia) and the Office of Disaster Management (Dominica). ¶7. Embassy Bridgetown reports that no U.S. citizens have been affected by Hurricane Dean in these islands. ¶8. Because of the effects of Hurricane Dean, the U.S. mission is requesting the following support: plastic sheeting (50 rolls) for St. Lucia; plastic sheeting (75 rolls) for Dominica plus USD 25,000 emergency funds for local procurement of shelter repair materials. HOWARD