The following report is factual and the information has been provided by The Dominica High
Commission or taken from the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica website
http://www.opm.gov.dm.
On Thursday 27th August, The island of Dominica sustained devastating damage due to the passage
of Tropical Storm Erika. Torrential rain resulted in 10 to 12 inches of rainfall in less than twelve hours
and caused absolute devastation of this beautiful tropical Island. The volume of water caused the
many rivers to over flow, trees uprooted, homes and bridges have been washed away and many
remote villages were and some still are cut-off by the landslides, reports are that complete areas of
the Island has been wiped off the map. Erika is regarded as the deadliest natural disaster in
Dominica since Hurricane David in 1979.
As a result, of the storms at least 31 people have been reported dead or missing and there are a
large number of casualties, entire villages have been evacuated and some areas are only accessible
by either helicopter or small boats.
Generations of families have been wiped out with one family in our community having lost 17 family
members from the Petite Savanne area of the Island our condolences goes out to anyone who have
lost family or friends.
Most of the main roads were impassable and several bridges are blocked or damaged. The provision
of essential services (water, electricity) has been disrupted and 23 days later still not fully
operational in some areas, and landline and mobile phone service is still intermittent in many areas.
The agricultural sector and consequently livelihoods have been significantly impacted due to crop
losses.
Relief and rescue campaign has started in earnest with Britain sending the British Frigate (RFA Lyme
Bay). They have been distributing food and water to four (4) communities on the West Coast of
Dominica. Hot meals are also being supplied, other countries are rallying round to send aid and
health personnel.
The Government of Dominica has declared nine (9) Special Disaster Areas. These are:
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Petite Savanne
Pichelin
Good Hope
Bath Estate (Paradise Valley)
Dubique
Campbell
Coulibistrie
San Sauveur
Petite Soufriere
709 persons confirmed evacuated from Petit Savanne
Dublique has been evacuated
Numbers have increased in shelters to approximately 405 persons
271 houses damaged or destroyed at least 217 of those were in Petit Savanne
405 people in 8 shelters
22 unreachable or damaged schools
Overall, the island nation has been left with hundreds of millions in damage and has been set back
approximately 20 years in terms of development.
Just to put things into perspective Total economic losses from Erika are estimated to be over
$273.9 million (2015 USD), with at least $245 million in damages in Dominica alone.
It is estimated that to rebuild the:
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Airport will cost over $30 million
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Roads and Bridges over $600 million
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Clean up to get to villages over $12 million
Priority list of supplies required:
Senior Citizens:
Babies and Young Children:
Food:
Adult Nappies & Wipes
Hand Sanitisers
Milk & Cereal
Canned Foods
Baby Milk & Cereal
Baby Nappies (all Sizes)
Juice
Snacks
Canned Food
Dried Food
Rice and rice mixes
Canned pasta
Noodle mixes
Dry noodles and pasta
Macaroni and cheese mix
Whole-grain crackers
Granola bars, power bars, energy bars
Flour
Other items are required but these are most needed and quickly shippable.
Dominican Baroness Patricia Scotland has been appointed as the international coordinator of the
Dominica Relief Effort.
The Bradford Dominican Association held a relief meeting on Sunday 13th September were all friends
whether Dominican or not were welcomed. Out of this meeting a number of people put their names
forward to be part of a Relief Committee, an email will be going out this week to those people asking
them to attend a meeting where the committee will be finalised.
The Dominica Association will be available on a:
Wednesday’s and Thursday’s from 11am – 4pm for donations i.e. children clothing, nappies
and other non-perishable items. Once sufficient amounts have been collected these will be delivered
to the Dominica High Commission in London.
Any monies raised will be sent to the Dominican Red Cross
Events
On Saturday (yesterday) David Simon and the Shipley Fire Station had donation buckets at
the Saltaire Festival
10th October there will be a dance to be held at the Dominica Association with Selah Sounds
Headlining
31st October – 7th November Dominica Week, with events at Dominica Association and
Xplosion’s event at the Bradford Playhouse incorporating Dominica Independence more to be
announced in the coming weeks.
28th November “Dress in White Party”
Our Chairman Colum Sheridan-Small has given interviews to local community radio station BCB, the
Telegraph & Argus and circulated information to local community groups. He has met with both the
Lord Mayor of Bradford and the Council Leader - Cllr David Green to raise awareness of the situation
in Dominica; both have pledged to assist where they can.
Any monies raised should be sent to the:
Dominican Red Cross
National Headquarters
Federation Drive
Goodwill, Roseau
Contact Information:
Tel: (001)(767)440-2483/448-8280
Fax: (001) (767) 448-7708
Telegram: DOMCROSS
Email: directorgeneral@redcross.dm
Web: http://www.caribbeanredcross.org/index.php/national-societies/dominica
https://www.ifrc.org/en/news-and-media/news-stories/americas/dominica/dominica-emergencyappeal-after-tropical-storm-erika-69368/
GOFUNDME (debit\credit card) Option Endorsed by the Government of Dominica
T.S. Erika Relief Fund for Dominica https://www.gofundme.com/DA-ErikaReliefFund