OT 283: Email to the Committee Specialist from the Parliamentary Relations Team,

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Turks and Caicos Islands

 

 

TCI HURRICANE IKE

 

Hurricane Ike, a Category 4 hurricane, hit the Turks and Caicos Islands on the evening of 6 September and morning of 7 September. There have been no reports of serious injuries, but the island of Grand Turk, which is the seat of Government and where the Governor's Office is located, has been badly damaged, as has the island of South Caicos. The Governor has declared a state of emergency for both islands in order to focus the aid effort and facilitate the delivery of international assistance.

 

The overall situation appears to be stabilising. The island of Providenciales, the major economic and population centre of the TCI, has largely returned to normal. Its tourism and financial sectors are open for business and the international airport has re-opened. The islands remain calm, although there have been some reports of an increase of property crime in Grand Turk. Police reinforcements from other Overseas Territories have been stood down but could be reactivated at short notice if necessary. Mobile telephone networks are working, but contact is intermittent with Grand Turk. The main radio station is now operational on Grand Turk, and work has begun to restore the repeaters on the outer islands. Food supplies are no longer of major concern, containers are arriving from Miami. The main water supply on Grand Turk is partially operational, and although the plant on South Caicos remains unserviceable, adequate supplies of bottled water are available. Power lines and poles are beginning to be replaced.

 

Before Hurricane Ike struck, the Governor's Office was reinforced with consular staff from the region and the UK-based Deputy Governor from Bermuda. On 7 September, HMS Iron Duke arrived off Grand Turk immediately after the storm and conducted an aerial reconnaissance for initial damage assessment. They have subsequently been involved in repairing hospital and school facilities. Additional work was done to make the Grand Turk airport serviceable for emergency traffic, reactivate the desalination plant and radio station, assist residents to cover damaged roofs with tarpaulins, and to distribute food and drinking water. RFA Wave Ruler arrived on 9 September and has helped provide general supplies and water for South Caicos. Having completed their tasking both ships left on 11 September. The rapid response team (law enforcement, prisons, disaster management and disaster risk reduction advisers) from the Overseas Territories Directorate at the FCO is in TCI.

 

DFID have committed £60,000 (£30,000 for British Red Cross operations in TCI and £30,000 for supplies delivered by HMS Iron Duke and RFA Wave Ruler).

 

The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency has produced a Rapid Needs Assessment and "needs list". We will consider how best to respond to any requests arising from this Assessment. Some other Caribbean islands have given emergency supplies and expertise. The Bermuda Regiment has made a recce visit, and we expect a detachment of 50 volunteers to be deployed early next week.