Note: The last fact sheet was dated October 8, 2010.
KEY DEVELOPMENTS
- On October 27, the nineteenth named storm of this hurricane season, Tomas, formed off the northeastern coast of South America. After developing into a tropical storm, Tomas made landfall in Barbados on October 30. Tomas became a Category One hurricane as it approached St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where it collapsed bridges and destroyed houses, crops, roads, and other infrastructure. On November 4, the storm passed Jamaica as a tropical storm and caused little damage. On November 5, the storm had regained hurricane strength and passed between Haiti and Cuba. As of November 6, the storm had passed beyond the Turks and Caicos Islands, causing little damage, and headed into the Atlantic Ocean.
- On October 31, U.S. Chargé d'Affaires a.i. for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean D. Brent Hardt declared a disaster due to the effects of Hurricane Tomas in St. Lucia. In response, USAID/OFDA provided $50,000 through the U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown for the local procurement of emergency relief supplies to assist storm-affected populations. Based on field needs assessments, USAID/OFDA also provided 100 rolls of plastic sheeting, 1,000 water containers, 1,000 blankets, and 1,056 hygiene kits from the USAID/OFDA warehouse in Miami for distribution by the Government of Saint Lucia (GoSL) National Emergency Management Office (NEMO). In addition, a USAID/OFDA disaster risk management specialist in St. Lucia conducted damage assessments in coordination with the GoSL NEMO, with assistance from 14 USAID/OFDA surge consultants. The USAID/OFDA Senior Regional Advisor traveled to St. Lucia from November 3 to 4 to monitor conditions and coordinate with local disaster management officials.
- On October 31, U.S. Chargé d'Affaires a.i. for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean D. Brent Hardt also declared a disaster due to the effects of Hurricane Tomas in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. In response, USAID/OFDA provided $50,000 through the U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown for the local procurement of emergency relief supplies to assist storm-affected populations. USAID/OFDA provided an additional 100 rolls of plastic sheeting, 1,000 water containers, 1,000 blankets, and 1,056 hygiene kits from the USAID/OFDA warehouse in Miami for distribution by the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (GoSVG) NEMO. In addition, USAID/OFDA deployed a disaster risk management specialist to St. Vincent to monitor the situation and coordinate with local emergency management officials. The USAID/OFDA Senior Regional Advisor also traveled to St. Vincent on November 4 to meet with local authorities and assess storm damage.
- On November 8, U.S. Ambassador Anne S. Andrew declared a disaster due to the effects of the flooding in Costa Rica that resulted from above-average and sustained heavy rainfall in recent weeks. In response, USAID/OFDA provided $50,000 through the U.S. Embassy in San José to the Government of Costa Rica (GoCR) National Emergency Commission (CNE) for air support and fuel to reach isolated communities with relief assistance. In addition, USAID/OFDA airlifted emergency relief supplies, including 100 rolls of plastic sheeting, 2,000 water containers, and 2,016 hygiene kits, from the USAID/OFDA warehouse in Miami, Florida. USAID/OFDA staff in the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) in San José continue to coordinate with the GoCR CNE and the U.S. Embassy in San José to evaluate flood-related damage and corresponding humanitarian needs.
