VZCZCXRO7467
OO RUEHGR
DE RUEHWN #1060 2342125
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 222125Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN
TO RUEHSJ/AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE IMMEDIATE 0923
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5284
RUEHSP/AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN PRIORITY 9569
RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO PRIORITY 5863
RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
INFO RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J3 MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 0263
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J4 MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0119
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J5 MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS BRIDGETOWN 001060 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CAR 
SAN JOSE FOR USAID/OFDA-CALLAGHAN AND LEONARD 
USAID FOR DCHA/OFDA-THAYER AND LAC/AA 
GENEVA FOR N.KYLOH, USUN FOR T.MALY, SECDEF FOR SOLIC, 
JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC FOR J3/J4/J5, NSC FOR P.MARCHAM 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC CASC EAID ST DO XL
SUBJECT: DECLARATION OF DISASTER:  DOMINICA AND ST. LUCIA 
 
¶1.  As a result of the passage of Hurricane Dean on August 
16/17 the Chief of Mission has determined that the disaster 
is beyond the capability of the governments of St. Lucia and 
the Commonwealth of Dominica to respond, is of sufficient 
magnitude to warrant U.S. government assistance, and is in 
the best interest of the U.S. government to respond.  The 
Chief of Mission is therefore exercising the disaster 
assistance authority. 
 
¶2.  A hurricane has occurred and affected both St. Lucia and 
Dominica beginning during the night hours of August 16 and 
continuing until the evening of August 17.  According to 
damage assessments from the host governments, USG disaster 
specialists on-site, and the Caribbean Disaster and Emergency 
Agency (CDERA), there has been widespread destruction in the 
agricultural sectors of both countries plus considerable 
damage to the housing stock and other infrastructure.  Early 
assessments state that damage to housing and related 
infrastructure in St. Lucia exceeds ECD 800,000 (USD 320,000) 
and at least five hundred (500) homes in Dominica have been 
heavily damaged. 
 
¶3.  The Ambassador's authority for emergency assistance will 
be used to provide the following relief:  For St. Lucia, the 
immediate supply of fifty (50) rolls of plastic sheeting to 
the National Emergency Management Organization; For Dominica, 
seventy-five (75) rolls of plastic sheeting donated to the 
Office of Disaster Management plus USD 25,000 for the local 
procurement of emergency shelter repair materials. 
 
¶4.  Additional funds may be required for additional 
infrastructure repair and recovery of the hard-hit 
agricultural sectors.  The extent of these needs and the 
potential for response will be assessed as soon as possible. 
 
¶5.  Official request for U.S. assistance has been made by the 
St. Lucia National Emergency Management Organization in 
communications to OFDA/LAC and USAID/Barbados and from the 
Commonwealth of Dominica Ministry of Foreign Affairs to 
Embassy Bridgetown. 
 
¶6.  Host country agencies involved in relief operations are 
the above mentioned National Emergency Management Agency (St. 
Lucia) and the Office of Disaster Management (Dominica). 
 
¶7.  Embassy Bridgetown reports that no U.S. citizens have 
been affected by Hurricane Dean in these islands. 
 
¶8.  Because of the effects of Hurricane Dean, the U.S. 
mission is requesting the following support:  plastic 
sheeting (50 rolls) for St. Lucia; plastic sheeting (75 
rolls) for Dominica plus USD 25,000 emergency funds for local 
procurement of shelter repair materials. 
HOWARD