NOAH’s ARK

Situation analysis:  Description of the disaster

On Tuesday, 16 October 2018, the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Office (TTMS) issued an Adverse Weather Alert (Yellow Level) that predicted showers and thunderstorms due to the presence of an Inter-Tropical Convergent Zone (ITCZ); the warning was in place from Wednesday, 17 to Friday to 19 October. On Thursday, 18 October, the TTMS upgraded the alert to Orange Level, as the ITCZ continued to produce intermittent periods of rainfall and thunderstorms. Late Thursday, 18 October, the TTMS issued a Riverine Flood Alert (Red Level), as river levels exceeded threshold levels and some of them overflowed their banks. Since additional rainfall was forecasted, river levels were expected to remain elevated for the next several days.

On Friday, 19 October, the Piarco International Airport was closed for several hours, as the weather made it impossible for aircraft to land, and the surrounding roadways were flooded. That same day, the ODPM issued Public Advisory #8 at 2031 hours, which alerted the TTRCS Disaster Management system of an ongoing life-threatening operation in the Greenvale Park community of La Horquetta, where residents were stranded on their roofs due to the rapid onset of floodwaters.

On Saturday, 20 October a national newspaper described the floods as ‘catastrophic’ (Trinidad Express 20 Oct. 2018), and the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) advised that the main north-south highway was impassable; nevertheless, the country’s president has not issued an official national disaster declaration in accordance with the Disaster Measures Act. The persistent rainfall has caused flooding in approximately 80 per cent of the country, primarily the north, east and central parts of the island nation such as Sangre Grande, Matelot, La Horquetta, St. Helena, Caroni and Mayaro. There are reports from ODPM and CDEMA’s Situation Report #1 that the flooding has impacted 100,000 to 150,000 people. Additionally, official reports from ODPM and CDEMA indicate that 800 people sought shelter in collective centres during th the peak of the emergency; however, the colletive centre population is decreasing as affected people return home to begin the cleanup process.

Summary of the current response:  Overview of Host National Society

On 19 October 2018, the TTRCS mobilized an 11-member team of responders, which included shelter management, psychosocial support (PSS), medical and coordination specialists, to conduct an initial assessment and provide medical support in the event of injuries during any rescue operations. Upon their arrival in the community of La Horquetta, the team had to transition from assessment to response mode because rescued residents were being housed at a multipurpose sporting complex and a primary school approximately one mile from the impacted zone. The deployed TTRCS personnel engaged in shelter support to ensure that proper emergency shelter procedures were implemented, such as the registration of residents, dormitory management and that the affected population’s psychosocial needs were met; the situation was exacerbated by the many children who had become separated from their parents due to the emergency.

The TTRCS’s medical team and the two ambulances it had at its disposal supported the National Society’s rescue operations through the transportation of injured people to health facilities and the evacuation of persons with special needs; the team also conducted a rapid medical evaluation of the rescued people, as these people had been stranded for several hours and partially submerged in floodwaters during that time in many cases.

The TTRCS also addressed the basic needs of the residents who had been marooned outside the flooded community and waited for up to eighteen hours to return to their community through the provision of blankets and water.

Thus far, the TTRCS has deployed the following resources to support the emergency operation:

• 2 ambulances
• 3 support vehicles
• Over 40 volunteers (trained in PSS, shelter management, emergency medical response and first aid)
• In the affected areas, the TTRCS is assisting with the management of one large emergency evacuation centre, which had 77 residents as of 23 October 2018
• The provision of ambulance service to the collective centres and the affected communities
• Support on evacuations and the rescue of affected people
• Provision of PSS to affected community members
• Coordinating the collection and delivery of relief supplies

The TTRCS will conduct detailed damage assessments as flood waters recede; the National Society is currently conducting rapid community level assessments, and it has already assessed the following villages: Kelly Village, Saint Helena, Madras Road, Cumuto, Sangre Grande, Valencia, Rio Claro, Mayaro, La Horquetta Greenvale

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INTERNATIONAL TAXPAYERS

The Prime Minister thanked the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) for donations of TTD4 million for flood relief deposited into the Consolidated Fund. The Finance Ministry will release funds to government ministries with responsibility for disaster relief which will handle the applications in the normal way.

The Prime Minister previously said Government would provide $25 million to assist victims of last weekend’s floods. “We should probably end up spending more than the $25 million but it will be one of a pool of funds.” Over 2,000 families were catastrophically affected by floods. Cabinet agreed to provide increased grants of $15,000 and $20,000. The Planning Minister said the US$200,000 from the CDB will be spent on an agreed list of items from the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM). CDB approved this funding after discussion with its president who received a formal letter from her. The CDB made contact with the ODPM. The IDB is finalising the details of its grant and Red Cross is the agency to channel its support. The IDB offered US$200,000 to Government for flood relief IDB and CDB deal directly with the planning ministry. CAF indicated it was pledging US$200,000 to humanitarian and relief efforts through a designated government channel under the Finance Ministry’s remit.

Caribbean Airlines (CAL) is accepting shipments of relief supplies for people and organisations which will be sent from the airline’s North American, Caribbean and South American destinations, until midnight on November 23. Packaged items include linens; storage containers; appliances; canned food and openers; babyitems ; personal items ; cleaning equipment and school supplies. Cargo shipments out of the United States and Canada are to be delivered to Strategic Air Services in Miami, Florida; Swift Pac Logistic in Brooklyn, New York and Swissport Cargo Mississuaga, Ontario. Shipments are subject to space availability; air freight and handling charges must be pre-paid by the shipper; shipments will be subject to customs duties and taxes payable by the recipient upon arrival and shipments must be properly packaged and addressed.

Annual ODPM grants are included in the budget allocation to National Security, of $6.12 billion in 2018, $7.625 billion in 2017 and $10.81 billion in 2016. Government received US$2,534,550 (TT $17 million) from the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) $4 million in aid from the CDB, IDB and CAF. Each offered US$ 200,000 and ODPM was included in the CDB grant. DREF allocated 249,603 Swiss francs (USD 248,972) for the Red Cross. St Vincent – Grenadines donated USD 40,000. Donations continue to arrive. Total available for humanitarian relief exceeds USD 10, 888,972.

Noah’s Arks

ECO delivered two 5 -person inflatable lifeboat dinghies to Trinidad, one for Mayaro-Rio Claro regional corporation and one fore Tunapuna-Piarco Regional Corporation.

AS heavy rain and strong winds ravage the battered country, Mayaro residents fear the worst as they anticipate a repeat of massive flooding. Many began to move belongings to higher ground.

“Just a few weeks ago we went through one of the worst flooding in years, and now to have a repeat of this again? I really don’t know what I will do.”said Yushmia Boodhan, 35, still cleaning her home. “This is really a frightening situation. All we can ..is pray. I am not only praying for me but for the entire country, because I know what I went through, so I know how other people who were affected are feeling.”

Maurisa Mohammed said when the rain started she began to cry. “I .. really can’t go through this again. .. I lost so much in the last flooding. ..”

Mayaro/Rio Claro Regional Corporation chairman Glenn Ram said if the rain continues for long periods, in the next hours there would be heavy flooding. Ram and members of the Disaster Management Unit were out in the field preparing. “We are really hoping for the best, because I really don’t know how we would be able to get over this, as clean- up operations are still going on.”

There have been reports of flooding in part of Penal and Couva.

The Met Office announced an Adverse Weather Alert #1 at Yellow Level is in effect from 1-2 November as a result of the passing of a tropical wave and reported heavy rainfall island-wide.

Thunderstorms and floods are possible until 3 November , warned the Met Offic in online posts,following recent flood devastation in east and central Trinidad. Periods of showers and thunderstorms are likely from 31 october with a possible peak between November 1 and 2. There is a 70 per cent chance of heavy showers or thunderstorms during the period, which may lead to street/flash flooding.

The Met Office website forecast “Gusty winds, street and flash flooding is possible (amid) heavy showers and thunderstorms.” The website warned of landslides/landslips in areas so prone. “Gusty winds can also be experienced in the vicinity of heavy downpours. This activity is due to the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).

“Rainfall accumulations of 35 to 50 mm can be expected, with higher amounts in isolated areas.” The public was advised to monitor the weather and get updates at the website of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management, www.odpm.gov.tt

PAYOUT

GOVERNMENT received a payout of US$2,534,550 (TT $17 million) from the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) to assist relief efforts after last weekend’s inundation.

On October 22, Finance Minister Colm Imbert said his ministry requested the CCRIF urgently disburse funds under the oil state’s catastrophe insurance policy. This payout represented the second year in a row that the energy archipelago received a payout on its excess rainfall policy after heavy rainfall in October.

The member of CCRIF since 2007 bought CCRIF policies for tropical cyclones and earthquakes every year since then. The CCRIF said starting last year, the government began buying coverage for excess rainfall (XSR) and has two separate XSR policies in place – one for Trinidad and one for Tobago.

Since acquiring its first excess rainfall policy in 2017, the Government received two payouts totalling US$9.5 million ($64 million). The first was the October 2017 payout of US$7,007,886. The second payout is the current one for October floods.

CRIF is able to make rapid payouts because its insurance products are parametric. “This means that payments are made based on the intensity of an event (in this case the volume and distribution of rainfall) and the amount of loss caused by the event calculated in a pre-agreed model.”

The hazard levels are applied to pre-defined government exposure to produce a loss estimate. The modelled loss estimate is then compared to three key elements – attachment point, exhaustion point, and ceding percentage – in the country’s policy to determine if the policy is triggered and if so, the value of the payout.

Each year, before the start of a new policy year in June, CCRIF meets member governments to discuss details of the CCRIF coverage they wish to buy for the upcoming year. Governments are also given updates and information related to model changes and enhancement and the full range of CCRIF’s products and services, as well as new products being developed, while at the same time CCRIF seeks to enhance members’ understanding of the importance of risk transfer and its relationship with financial protection and sustainability. CCRIF met the Government in May.

Met Office retains flood alert

Boats and relief items at  El Socorro South community  inundated  for 5 days.
WATER ACTIVITIES: Community mobilised with boats and relief items, come to the aid of their fellow residents of the El Socorro South community yesterday which has been under water for the last five days.

The Met Office earlier cancelled the adverse weather alert at orange level which meant citizens should prepare to safeguard themselves and their property. In a bulletin the Office said the weather alert was green level which means weather conditions improved and citizens are instructed to assess their environment for safety concerns.

“Don’t take unnecessary risks. This is the final public warning message for this severe weather event. Remain vigilant. Continue to monitor official sources for information.”

A flooding alert remains in effect with a riverine flood alert number three ­– orange level. “River levels are currently near threshold values in some parts especially along the Caroni basin, and flooding is ongoing in certain regions as well. The levels are however decreasing, but it will take some time, especially since rainfall is still in the forecast. Therefore, a high risk to public safety, livelihoods and property still exists in these areas.”

The Met Office instructed citizens to: assess their environment for safety concerns; avoid wading through residual flood water; monitor weather conditions and river levels; follow the instructions of government officials; and monitor official sources for information via www.odpm.gov.tt.

Seismic Centre: Quake activity elevated

Two earthquakes were part of “an elevated level of seismicity” being felt regionally and globally, said Dr Joan Latchman, head of the Seismic Research Centre (SRC), at the University of the West Indies (UWI), St Augustine. “What we are seeing in the Gulf of Paria this year is somewhat elevated above what we would normally see.”

The two quakes occurred respectively at 11.33 pm and 11.37 pm in the Gulf of Paria, followed by aftershocks. The first and main quake was 5.1 magnitude at a depth of 10 kilometres. Some people felt the quakes, among 100 people commenting on the SRC’s Facebook page. While there was no direct link between these quakes and the 6.9 quake of August 21, it may be part of the system having been disturbed, or getting ready to be disturbed. The two quakes are not necessarily any precursor to anything to come but a huge earthquake like that in 1776 may still occur any time.