VZCZCXRO5733
PP RUEHGR
DE RUEHKG #1274/01 2331253
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 211253Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY KINGSTON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5218
RUEHSJ/AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE PRIORITY 1921
RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK PRIORITY 0488
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 0271
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0103
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL//J9// PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM J5 MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM J4 MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINGSTON 001274 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AIDAC 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT ALSO PASS TO USAID/W 
USAID/W FOR A/AID HFORE 
LAC/AA FOR PBONICELLI 
DCHA/AA FOR MHESS, GGOTTLIEB 
DCHA/OFDA FOR KLUU, AFERRARA, ACONVERY, RTHAYER, SBISWAS 
STATE FOR WHA, CA, DS, A, M/DGHR, PM 
WHA/CAR BMAJEWSKI 
SAN JOSE FOR TCALLAGHAN 
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH, RMA 
USUN FOR TMALEY 
NSC FOR PMARCHAM 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO MARR PREL PHUM
EAID, PINR, AMGT, MX, CU, XL, XK, JM 
SUBJECT: USAID SITUATION REPORT 1 HURRICANE DEAN 
 
REF: KINGSTON 1272 
 
------- 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶1.  As of August 20, the USAID assessment team reports 
that Hurricane Dean has destroyed the sugarcane crop in 
Saint Catherine Parish and resulted in pockets of damage 
throughout the island.  Initial assessments indicate 
that Clarendon, Saint Thomas, and Saint Catherine 
parishes have sustained significant damage.  In 
response, USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster 
Assistance (OFDA) has provided USD 100,000 through 
USAID/Jamaica to support the Government of Jamaica's 
(GOJ) Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency 
Management (ODPEM) and non-governmental organizations 
(NGOs) to procure and distribute emergency relief 
supplies, as well as to support damage assessments to 
affected areas.  Currently, comprehensive estimates of 
damage from Hurricane Dean are unavailable.  End 
Summary. 
 
------------------ 
Damage Assessments 
------------------ 
 
¶2.  On August 20, USAID staff assessed the impact of 
Hurricane Dean in a flyover mission to the eastern and 
western ends of the island, as well as by road in 
caravans with Embassy personnel.  The aerial assessments 
conducted on August 20, included ODPEM and GOJ 
authorities, but all locations were not able to be 
visited and disaster specialists were only able to spend 
a few minutes on the ground in each location. 
 
¶3.  The team on the aerial assessment to the eastern 
region of the island reported that pockets of damage 
were apparent in Shooter Hill area and Bull Bay.  In 
Saint Catherine Parish, the sugarcane crop has been 
seriously damaged by the strong winds.  In addition, the 
water pipeline near Port Royal Road was washed out, and 
the Yallahs River bridge is down.  However, weather 
conditions prevented the team from traveling to all 
locations. 
 
¶4.  The team that traveled to the western region 
estimated that Hurricane Dean demolished approximately 
80 percent of buildings in Old Harbor fishing village in 
Saint Catherine Parish and 75 percent in Portland 
Cottage in Clarendon Parish.  Old Harbor and Portland 
Cottage do not have water or electricity.  In addition, 
an estimated 60 percent of the roads to Clarendon are 
blocked.  Rocky Point also sustained damage, but no 
specifics are available. 
 
¶5.  The team traveling overland reported that the roads 
from Kingston to Kingston Airport were clear except for 
the road that leads directly to the airport.  USAID 
staff spoke with police and laborers working to unblock 
the road who reported that it was unclear if it would 
take one or two days to reopen the road.  Clearing of 
the airport road is crucial to facilitating the delivery 
of relief supplies, including those being prepared for 
airlift by USAID.  However, as of 1300 hours local time 
the airport road was passable using a four-wheel drive 
vehicle, according to the team. 
 
------------- 
ODPEM Reports 
 
KINGSTON 00001274  002 OF 002 
 
 
------------- 
 
¶6.  The morning of August 20, ODPEM reported that 5,146 
people are in 231 shelters islandwide.  ODPEM reported 
damage to water supply systems.  The GOJ Ministry of 
Health continues to monitor the situation in all 
parishes.  Hospitals are open, but are only accepting 
emergency cases.  Some hospitals are reportedly damaged. 
 
-------------- 
USAID Response 
-------------- 
 
¶7.  On August 20, USAID/OFDA provided USD 100,000 
through USAID/Jamaica for ODPEM and NGOs to purchase 
emergency relief supplies and support relief assessments 
to affected areas.  The USAID assessment team on the 
ground in Kingston continues to assess damage, 
coordinate relief activities with other donors and 
partners, and analyze information on the impact of 
Hurricane Dean. 
 
¶8.  At 1700 hours local time on August 20, the USAID 
team plans to attend a donor and UN coordination meeting 
and expects to receive more comprehensive assessment 
information.  The USAID assessment team will continue to 
conduct assessments in the coming days in order to 
identify priority relief activities and worst affected 
areas on the island. 
 
JOHNSON