Message: Hurricane Matthew, a powerful Category 4 Hurricane which impacted the Bahamas during 4th - 6th October, 2016, has moved out of the North-Western Bahamas. The Government of The Bahamas has discontinued the Hurricane Warning for all parts of the country. The CIMH in its analysis of the system has forecast that Matthew is to become a post-tropical system as it moves to temperate latitudes.

EVENT:
Hurricane Matthew, the 5th named hurricane of the 2016 Atlantic Hurricane season, formed near the Windward Islands on September 28, 2016. As a Tropical Storm, Matthew impacted Barbados, Dominica, Saint Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Wednesday September 28, 2016. As a hurricane, it impacted Jamaica and Haiti on Monday, 3rd October, 2016 and The Commonwealth of the Bahamas during 4th - 6th October, 2016.

 

On Sunday, 9th October, 2016 at 11:00 AM EDT (1500 UTC), Post-Tropical Cyclone Matthew was located near latitude 35.2o North, longitude 73.7o West. Maximum sustained winds are near 75 mph (120 km/h) with higher gusts and hurricane force winds extend outward up to 70 miles (110km), mainly to the southwest of the center and tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 240 miles (390km).

PROGNOSIS:
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) indicates that Post-Tropical Cyclone Matthew has moved out of The Bahamas and is moving towards the east near 15mph (24km/h) and this general motion is expected to continue and general weakening of the system is forecasted over the next few days.

The Caribbean Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) provided a weather briefing today to CDEMA and other regional and international partners. Other models consulted by the CIMH, including the CIMH high-resolution models, are in general agreement with the NHC assessment and further show that over the next 48-hours, rainfall totals of less than 1 inch are expected in the Bahamas and Haiti. Analysis indicates that no further immediate threat is posed to these countries from Post-Tropical Cyclone Matthew.

NATIONAL ACTIONS:
North Western-Caribbean Participating States
The CDEMA CU maintains contact with the National Disaster Offices (NDO) of Haiti and The Commonwealth of The Bahamas regarding response to the impact from Hurricane Matthew.

(Note: CDEMA CU Situation Reports present official data as issued by the National Emergency Operations Centre of an affected State. Data and information presented by the press, social media and other unofficial sources may differ.)

Haiti
The NEOC reports (Damage and Injury Report as of 8th October 2016 at midnight) that the following initial impacts have been confirmed:

• Districts Affected: Eleven (11) departments were affected, in particular Grand'Anse, Nippes and Sud (South). Significant impacts have been reported in the areas of Sud, specifically Les Caye and Grand'Anse specifically Jérémie.
• Dead: 336 (confirmed). These numbers are expected to increase as assessments continue.
• Missing: 4
• Injured: 211
• People evacuated and in shelter: 61,537 in 6 Departments – Centre (17), Grand Anse (14,000), Nippes (7,866), Nord-Ouest (388), Ouest (3,877), Sud (35,389)
• People sheltering with friends and family: 589
• Shelters opened: 191
• Flooded houses: 2,381
• Houses highly damaged: 25,160
• Houses destroyed: 500
• Family affected: 115,000
• Health institutions affected: 2
• Schools affected: 178
• Telecommunications: Severely damaged or destroyed. No cell phone access.
• Roads and Bridges damaged: roads damaged in Gonaives, Terre-Neuve, Miragoane, Mombin Crochu, Vallieres, Fond-Verrettes, Petit-Goâve, Anglais, Maniche, Torbeck, Cayes-Jacmel
• Agriculture: This sector has been highly impacted

Updates on Situation

CARICOM Operational Support Team (COST)

The COST team led by Brigadier General (Rtd) Earl Arthurs arrived in Haiti on Saturday, October 8th 2016. They reported to the Civil Protection Directorate (CPD) and received a briefing from the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC).

Based on aerial assessments, significant wind damage has been observed. Reconnaissance flights were planned for Sunday October 9th, to observe damage to the Departments of Grand Anse and South. Additional reconnaissance flights will be needed for the north-western peninsula. The COST will be stationed in Les Cayes and are tasked strengthening two (2) departmental EOCs in (i) Jeremie, (in Grande Anse) and (ii) Les Cayes, (in the South).

Les Cayes

• The Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) is temporarily based at the UN
• The Operations Officer from the local EOC observed many houses roofs have been blown off

Jeremie

• The EOC has been temporarily relocated to the Administrative Complex but plans are in motion to return to their EOC building by Sunday, October 9, 2016.

General Situation

• There are five (5) communities for which there is no information. As a result, the numbers in the Damage and Injury Report may change.

Needs
The NEOC has begun the compilation of figures for the Needs List. The preliminary needs identified include: Water, Tarpaulin, Hygiene Kits, Water Purification Tablets, Vector Control, Bleach and Medicines. Priorities for the Government remain the distribution of water, food and drugs to people in temporary shelters and communities. The restoration of roads and communications are also a Government priority. Damage assessment and needs analysis (DANA) are ongoing.

An assessment of the needs of radio room revealed the following:

• one repeater to enhance the radio system
• 15 handsets (Motorola 350)
• 20 handheld radio antennas
• 1 HF handset
• SIM card for SAT Phone
• SIM card for a BGAN
• 2nd BGAN

The Bahamas
Rapid Needs Assessment Team (RNAT)

The RNAT deployed to the Bahamas via the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) and arrived in Nassau, Bahamas on Saturday, October 8th, 2016. The Turks and Caicos Islands, as a member of CDEMA, is providing support for the RNAT deployment to the Bahamas. The RNAT reported to the NEOC for a briefing on arrival.

The NEOC indicated that the hardest hit areas have been observed to be (i) Andros, particularly in communities to the north, and (ii) Grand Bahama, where the western part of the island has been severely impacted. The western area of Grand Bahama was without power and water.

The RNAT team is divided into three functional groups to support the national disaster management system in the three priority impacted islands.

• Team 1 – New Providence
• Team 2 – Andros
• Team 3 – Grand Bahama

Teams 2 & 3 departed for Andros and Grand Bahama respectively on Sunday, October 9th, 2016.

Assessment of New Providence
RNAT Team 1 has initiated assessments in two areas, Southern Shores and Misty Gardens, which had been impacted by storm surge ranging from 4-6 feet. The impacts observed include:

Southern Shores

• Wind damaged houses
• Homes and household items damaged by water intrusion from storm surge
• Debris requiring removal
• Standing water on roads which had experienced flooding.

Misty Gardens

• Roof damage to houses (but structural integrity remains).
• Uprooted trees
• Leaning electrical poles and downed power lines
• Standing water on streets nearest to the sea.

The Minister of Health and Environment has visited these areas to ensure that immediate impacts will begin to be addressed.

Immediate Needs

• Water (drinking, and for other day-to-day uses)
• Food
• Cleaning agents
• Separation of waste (removal of household waste)
• Public Information (PSAs, health awareness)
• Water storage (tanks)
• Psychosocial support

A team from the Government of the Bahamas, lead by the Prime Minister, and has visited these islands to observe the damage and provide an initial wave of relief supplies.

Medium Term Needs

• Testing of well water to determine if safe for use.

The RNAT will coordinate with national and international partners to complete assessments in these areas and to identify other priority areas as needed.

The Government of Bahamas indicated in a press conference tonight (Sunday 9 October 2016) that damage assessments have begun, as well as early recovery work to clear roads and restore water and power in affected communities. The Ministry of Social Work has also conducted rapid assessments, and begun to provide relief supplies and to seek solutions for re-housing residents. The Ministry of Tourism indicated that most hotel properties in the Bahamas sustained minimal damage (except on Grand Bahama and Andros) with many areas already returning to operation, including the cruise terminal in New Providence. A national hotline has been established: 1-242-322-2763 or 1-242-422-2763.

Please click here to view Appendix 1, pledges and donations of support to Haiti and the Bahamas to date.

CDEMA continues to monitor the situation and provide updates as necessary.

CONTACT DETAILS: The CDEMA CU 24-hour contact number 1(246) 434-4880