The heavy rains that resulted in severe flooding in parts of St. Vincent on Oct. 6 caused EC$7.7 million in damage.
Prime Minister Godwin Friday announced the figure during his Independence Address on Tuesday, three weeks after the event, saying in the immediate aftermath of the extreme weather that he would not give estimated figures until assessors had completed their work.
Addressing the nation from the Independence Parade at Arnos Vale, the prime minister noted that the country experienced 5.1 inches of rainfall in 24 hours.
“This resulted in landslides, blockage of public roads and damage to homes and other property in various parts of the country, with the worst-hit communities being Buccament, Pembroke, Questelles, Rillan Hill, Clare Valley and Marriaqua,” the prime minister said.
“From the assessment conducted by the relevant authorities, it was determined that 11 homes were destroyed. The estimated cost of the flood damage is approximately EC$7.7 million,” the prime minister said.
He said that the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) responded immediately and coordinated a multi-agency effort to assist those affected.
“Continuing assistance is being rendered to the affected persons,” Friday said.
He thanked the Deputy Prime MInisiter and Minister of Minister of National Security, St. Clair Leacock, the police, the staff at NEMO, and the Ministry of Housing, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and the Ministry of Social Welfare for their “rapid and effective response to this latest weather event.
“We continue to see and experience the effects of severe weather events far too frequently. This brings home to all of us how vulnerable we are to climate events and how critical it is for us to reduce our carbon footprint, though small already, and adapt to climate change,” the prime minister said.
Friday said his government would be “aggressive in our transition to renewable energy sources.
“We intend that within the next decade we will produce most of our energy from renewable sources. The current oil price escalation caused by the Iran War underscores the need to move ahead rapidly with this plan.”
Speaking at a press conference in Kingstown on Oct. 9 to brief the nation about the impact of the heavy rains, Friday said the government would not put a dollar figure on the damage caused by the flooding until assessment teams had completed their work, as NEMO reported widespread impacts on homes, roads, health facilities and water systems.
Friday said it was “premature” to estimate the cost of the damage before officials had gathered and verified the necessary information.
The government would first assess the affected areas and then report the findings, he said, arguing that a careful process was important to provide a credible picture and direct assistance to those most in need.
Speaking during the same briefing, acting Director of the NEMO, Kenson Stoddard, said the agency had received 154 verified incident reports.
These included 74 reports of flooding, 37 landslides and 18 retaining-wall problems.
Six homes had been reported totally lost, while others were severely compromised.
In the Buccament area, as many as 20 homes were in precarious condition, Stoddard said.
Stoddard said three multi-agency assessment teams — drawing on staff from Transport, Housing and Social Welfare, with NEMO support — were deployed to areas including Lower Questelles, Mesopotamia and Buccament.
Stoddard said they were still working to reach all affected families, including in Buccament, and to assess damage to businesses between Heritage Square and Edmond Street.
NEMO had hoped the teams would complete that stage of their work that afternoon, with an initial costing expected early the following week.
Stoddard said further assessment of affected sectors and critical infrastructure would follow.