Hurricane Dean

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Hurricane Dean
Type=hurricane
Year=2007
Basin=Atl
Image location=Dean 20 aug 2007 1841Z.jpg


Formed=August 13, 2007
Dissipated=August 23, 2007
1-min winds=150
Pressure=905
Da

Inflated=1
Fatalities=32 direct, 12 indirect
Areas=Windward Islands (especially St. Lucia, Martinique and Dominica), Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua
Hurricane season=2007 Atlantic hurricane season
Series=Hurricane Dean
Related=Hurricane Dean Related

Hurricane Dean was the strongest tropical cyclone of the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season. It was the most intense Atlantic hurricane since Hurricane Wilma of 2005, tying for seventh overall. Additionally, it made the third most intense Atlantic hurricane landfall. A Cape Verde-type hurricane, Dean took a west-northwest path from the eastern Atlantic Ocean through the Saint Lucia Channel and into the Caribbean Sea. It strengthened into a major hurricane, reaching Category 5 status on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale before passing just south of Jamaica on August 20. The storm made landfall on the Yucatán Peninsula on August 21 as a powerful Category 5 storm. It crossed the peninsula and emerged into the Bay of Campeche weakened, but still a hurricane. It strengthened briefly before making a second landfall in Veracruz near Tecolutla, Mexico, on August 22. Dean drifted to the northwest, weakening into a remnant low which dissipated uneventfully over the southwestern United States.

The hurricane's intense winds, waves, rains and storm surge were responsible for at least 45 deaths across ten countries and caused estimated damages of US$1.5 billion. First impacting the islands of the Lesser Antilles, Dean's path through the Caribbean devastated agricultural crops, particularly those of Martinique and Jamaica. Upon reaching Mexico, Hurricane Dean was a Category 5 storm, but it missed major population centers and its exceptional Category 5 strength landfall caused no deaths and less damage than in the Caribbean islands it passed as a Category 2 storm.

Through the affected regions, cleanup and repair took months to complete. Donations solicited by international aid organizations joined national funds in clearing roads, rebuilding houses, and replanting destroyed crops. In Jamaica, where the damage was worst, banana production did not return to pre-storm levels for over a year. Mexico's tourist industry, too, took almost a year to rebuild its damaged cruise ship infrastructure.

Dean was the first hurricane to make landfall in the Atlantic basin at Category 5 intensity in 15 years; the last storm to do so was Hurricane Andrew on August 24, 1992.cite web|author=Pasch/Brown|date=2007-08-21|title=Hurricane Dean Discussion Thirty Three|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-20|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.discus.033.shtml?] Dean's Category 5 landfall was in a sparsely populated area and thus far less damaging than Andrew's, but its long swath of damage earned its name retirement from the World Meteorological Organization's Atlantic hurricane naming lists.

Meteorological history

On August 11, 2007, a tropical wave moved off the west coast of Africa,cite web|author=Knabb|date=2007-08-11|title=August 11 Tropical Weather Outlook (1130)|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-14|url=ftp://ftp.met.fsu.edu/pub/weather/tropical/Outlook-A/2007081115.ABNT20] and, encountering favorable conditions,cite web|author=Rhome|date=2007-08-12|title=August 12 Tropical Weather Outlook (0530)|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-14|url=ftp://ftp.met.fsu.edu/pub/weather/tropical/Outlook-A/2007081209.ABNT20] quickly developed into Tropical Depression Four about 520 miles (835 km) west-southwest of Cape Verde.cite web|author=Knabb/Blake|date=2007-08-13|title=August 13 Tropical Weather Outlook (1130)|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-14|url=ftp://ftp.met.fsu.edu/pub/weather/tropical/Outlook-A/2007081315.ABNT20] The depression moved briskly westward,cite web|author=Brown/Franklin|date=2007-08-13|title=Tropical Depression Four Discussion Three|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-14|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.discus.003.shtml?] and was upgraded to Tropical Storm Dean at 1500 UTC on August 14.cite web|author=Avila|date=2007-08-14|title=Tropical Storm Dean Discussion Five|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-14|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.discus.005.shtml?] The storm's intensity continued to buildcite web|author=Brown|date=2007-08-14|title=Tropical Storm Dean Discussion Seven|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-15|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.discus.007.shtml?] although dry air and cooler air inflow from the north were slowing structural development. Ragged bands formed on August 15cite web|author=Beven|date=2007-08-15|title=Tropical Storm Dean Discussion Eight|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-15|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.discus.008.shtml?] and the formation of a partial eyewall was observed later that day.cite web|author=Blake|date=2007-08-15|title=Tropical Storm Dean Discussion Ten|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-15|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.discus.010.shtml?]

Intensification continuedcite web|author=Brown|date=2007-08-15|title=Tropical Storm Dean Discussion Eleven|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-16|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.discus.011.shtml?] and the storm was upgraded to Hurricane Dean at 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC) August 16.cite web|author=Beven|date=2007-08-16|title=Hurricane Dean Discussion Twelve|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-16|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.discus.012.shtml?] The deep-layered ridge to the north continued to steer the system west, towards the Caribbean Sea.cite web|author=Blake|date=2007-08-16|title=Hurricane Dean Discussion Thirteen|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-16|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.discus.013.shtml?] The storm quickly strengthened to a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.cite web|author=Avila/Blake|date=2007-08-16|title=Hurricane Dean Discussion Fourteen|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-16|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.discus.014.shtml?] cite web|author=Franklin|date=2007-08-16|title=Hurricane Dean Discussion Fifteen|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-17|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.discus.015.shtml?] The storm's development slowed slightly butcite web|author=Beven|date=2007-08-17|title=Hurricane Dean Discussion Sixteen|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-16|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.discus.016.shtml?] a reconnaissance aircraft discovered a closed eyewall on August 17 as the storm passed through the Lesser Antilles.cite web|author=Avila|date=2007-08-17|title=Hurricane Dean Discussion Seventeen|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-17|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.discus.017.shtml?] Data from the aircraft indicated that Hurricane Dean had strengthened to a Category 3 hurricanecite web|author=Avila/Mainelli|date=2007-08-17|title=Hurricane Dean Discussion Eighteen|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-17|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.discus.018.shtml?] and its trailing bands were still over the Lesser Antilles.cite web|author=Avila|date=2007-08-17|title=Hurricane Dean Discussion Nineteen|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-17|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.discus.019.shtml?] During the evening of August 17, Dean strengthened into a Category 4 hurricanecite web|author=Knabb|date=2007-08-17|title=Hurricane Dean Intermediate Advisory Nineteen 'A'|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-17|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.public_a.019.shtml?] and continued to steadily grow in both size and intensity through the night.cite web|author=Knabb|date=2007-08-17|title=Hurricane Dean Discussion Twenty|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-17|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.discus.020.shtml?] On August 18 the presence of a double eyewall was noted,cite web|author=Avila|date=2007-08-18|title=Hurricane Dean Discussion Twenty Three|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-18|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.discus.023.shtml?] indicating an eyewall replacement cycle and causing short term fluctuations in intensity.cite web|author=Avila|date=2007-08-18|title=Hurricane Dean Discussion Twenty Two|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-18|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.discus.022.shtml?] These fluctuations did not affect the storm's well defined satellite presentation. Operationally, Dean was thought to have only been a Category 4 on the 18th, but post-storm analysis shows that Dean had become a 165 miles per hour (265 km/h) Category 5 that day. Dean weakened very slightly on the morning of August 19 as it finished the eyewall replacement cycle and began to interact with the island of Jamaicacite web|author=Pasch/Brown|date=2007-08-19|title=Hurricane Dean Discussion Twenty Five|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-19|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.discus.025.shtml?]

Hurricane Dean passed south of Jamaica on the evening of August 19cite web|author=Franklin/Rhome|date=2007-08-19|title=Hurricane Dean Discussion Twenty Seven|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-20|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.discus.027.shtml?] and began to intensify again that night.cite web|author=Blake|date=2007-08-19|title=Hurricane Dean Public Advisory Twenty Eight|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-20|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.public.028.shtml?] Its eyewall replacement cycle was thought to be completed.cite web|author=Knabb|date=2007-08-19|title=Hurricane Dean Discussion Twenty Eight|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-20|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.discus.028.shtml?] A concentric eyewall was briefly observed again on the morning of August 20, but did not last long. The hurricane, still tracking west-northwest under the influence of a strengthening deep-layered high pressure system to the north, moved over waters with extremely high heat content and began to strengthen once again.cite web|author=Pasch/Brown|date=2007-08-20|title=Hurricane Dean Discussion Twenty Nine|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-20|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.discus.029.shtml?] The eyewall became even better defined during the day,cite web|author=Franklin|date=2007-08-20|title=Hurricane Dean Discussion Thirty|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-20|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.discus.030.shtml?] and, at 8:35 p.m. AST on August 20 (0035 August 21, UTC), Dean restrengthened to a Category 5 hurricane, the highest rating on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.Cite web|author=Knabb|date=2007-08-20|title=Hurricane Dean Update|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-20|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.update.08210034.shtml?] It made landfall as a Category 5 storm in Quintana Roo's Costa Maya region, 40 mi (65 km) northeast of the border between Mexico and Belize, and weakened on its way over land, reemerging on the western side of Yucatán as a Category 1 storm. [cite web|author=Staff Writer|publisher=Sky News|date=2007-08-21|accessdate=2008-08-24|url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Sky-News-Archive/Article/20082851280605|title=Mudslide Fears After Dean Batters Mexico] Dean regained strength as it crossed the Gulf of Mexico, and made its second landfall as a Category 2 storm on August 22, at around 11:30 CDT, near Tecolutla, Veracruz, to the south of Tuxpan, where after it moved westward, losing strength and disintegrating over central Mexico. A small remnant circulation reached the Pacific Ocean,cite web|author=Avila|date=2007-08-22|title=Hurricane Dean Discussion Forty|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-22|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.discus.040.shtml?] eventually moving northwestward around an anticyclone, roughly parallel to the Mexican coast and finally back inland over the southwestern United States, [cite web|author=Stuart Hinson|date=2007-08-26|title=NCDC Event Record Details 679276|publisher=National Climate Data Center|accessdate=2008-07-02|url=http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~679276] where it completely dissipated on August 27. [cite web|author=Jackson|date=2007-08-30|title=Surface Weather Map at 7:00 A.M. E.S.T.|publisher=National Centers for Environmental Prediction, Hydrometeorological Prediction Center |accessdate=2008-07-02|url=http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/dailywxmap/index_20070830.html]

Preparations

Hurricane Dean's smooth and well-predicted track gave unusually advanced warning to all of the nations in its path and allowed them time to prepare for the storm's impact. Because of the advanced warning and because of Dean's extraordinary strength, the nations of Central America and the Caribbean set up hundreds of shelters, readied thousands of disaster recovery experts, evacuated hundreds of thousands of vulnerable residents, and prepared millions of dollars of emergency supplies.

Lesser Antilles

As Hurricane Dean approached the Lesser Antilles the local meteorological services issued watches and warnings, advising residents to prepare for the storm. Hurricane warnings were issued for St. Lucia, Dominica,cite web|author=Beven|date=2007-08-16|title=Hurricane Dean Public Advisory Twelve|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-16|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.public.012.shtml?] Martinique and Guadeloupe and its dependencies.cite web|author=Blake/Avila|date=2007-08-16|title=Hurricane Dean Public Advisory Fourteen|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-16|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.public.014.shtml?] Hurricane watches were issued for Saba and St. Eustatius.cite web|author=Brown|date=2007-08-15|title=Tropical Storm Dean Public Advisory Eleven|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-15|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.public.011.shtml?] Tropical storm warnings were issued for Barbados,cite web|author=Pasch|date=2007-08-16|title=Hurricane Dean Tropical Cyclone Update|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-16|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.update.08161239.shtml?] Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts, Nevis, and St. Maartencite web|author=Blake/Avila|date=2007-08-16|title=Hurricane Dean Public Advisory Thirteen|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-16|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.public.013.shtml?] St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the U.S. Virgin Islands,cite web|author=Franklin/Brown|date=2007-08-16|title=Hurricane Dean Public Advisory Fifteen|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-16|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.public.015.shtml?] and the British Virgin Islands.cite web|author=Beven|date=2007-08-17|title=Hurricane Dean Public Advisory Sixteen|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-17|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.public.016.shtml?] Tropical storm watches were issued for St. Maarten, St. Vincent, Grenada and its dependencies,cite web|author=Pasch|date=2007-08-16|title=Hurricane Dean Tropical Cyclone Update|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-16|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.update.08161239.shtml?] Montserrat, and Anguilla.cite web|author=Franklin/Brown|date=2007-08-16|title=Hurricane Dean Public Advisory Fourteen A|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-16|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.public_a.014.shtml?]

Local authorities closed airports, set up shelters,cite web | title = Hurricane Dean strengthens as it takes aim at Caribbean islands | url = http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/08/17/news/CB-GEN-Hurricane-Dean.php | date = 2007-08-16 | accessdate = 2007-08-17 | author = Staff writer | publisher = Associated Press] and readied emergency service personnel.cite web|author=Staff writer|date=2007-08-17|title=Hurricane hits eastern Caribbean|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=2007-08-17|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6950626.stm] Authorities in Martinique canceled a memorial to the victims of West Caribbean Airways Flight 708 and began to set up shelters.cite web | title = Hurricane Dean strengthens as it takes aim at Caribbean islands | url = http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/08/17/news/CB-GEN-Hurricane-Dean.php | date = 2007-08-16 | accessdate = 2007-08-17 | author = Staff writer | publisher = Associated Press] In Dominica, tourists were evacuated to concrete shelters and foreign medical students from the Ross University School of Medicine evacuated the island entirely.cite web | title = Hurricane Dean strengthens as it takes aim at Caribbean islands | url = http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/08/17/news/CB-GEN-Hurricane-Dean.php | date = 2007-08-16 | accessdate = 2007-08-17 | author = Staff writer | publisher = Associated Press] The government of Dominica also canceled leave for emergency service personnel and evacuated Princess Margret Hospital, fearing that its roof might be vulnerable to the storm's winds.cite web|author=PAHO/WHO Caribbean Program Coordination|date=2007-08-23|accessdate=2007-08-24|publisher=Pan American Health Organization|title=Hurricane Dean in the Caribbean and Mexico, August 2007|url=http://www.paho.org/English/DD/PED/HurricaneDean807.htm] Martinique's main airport and both of St. Lucia's commercial airports closed when the last airplanes landed on the night of August 16 and the storm's outer rainbands began to sweep over the island.cite web|author=Michael Melia|date=2007-08-17|title="Hurricane Takes Aim at Caribbean Islands"|publisher=WashingtonPost.com|accessdate=2008-08-14|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/16/AR2007081602951.html]

In anticipation of Dean's significant damage, several emergency response groups gathered funds and readied personnel. On August 14 the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA) placed its Regional Response Mechanism on standby and contacted the National Disaster Coordinators of all member states in the Lesser Antilles.cite web|author=CDERA|publisher=Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency|date=2007-08-22|accessdate=2007-08-24|title=Summary of Impact of Hurricane "Dean" on CDERA Participating States|format=PDF|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWFiles2007.nsf/FilesByRWDocUnidFilename/EKOI-76D2JW-full_report.pdf/$File/full_report.pdf] On August 15 the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) dispatched teams to Barbados, Dominica, and St. Kitts in advance of the hurricane to provide damage assessment should the hurricane affect those islands.cite web|author=United States Agency for International Development (USAID)|publisher=Relief Web|date=2007-08-23|accessdate=2007-08-25|title=USAID provides hurricane assistance to Dominica and St. Lucia|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/EDIS-76DKTZ?OpenDocument&rc=2&emid=TC-2007-000135-LCA] The Eastern Caribbean Donor Group convened a meeting on August 16 under the Chair of the Resident Representative United Nations Development Programme Barbados in anticipation that member states would require international assistance.

Greater Antilles

Hurricane warnings were issued for all of Jamaica,cite web|author=Avila|date=2007-08-18|title=Hurricane Dean Public Advisory Twenty Two|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-18|date=2007-08-18|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.public.022.shtml?] for Haiti from Port-au-Prince to the Dominican border,cite web|author=Knabb|date=2007-08-17|title=Hurricane Dean Public Advisory Twenty|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-17|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.public.020.shtml?] and for the Dominican Republic from Barahona to the Haitian border.cite web|author=Knabb|date=2007-08-17|title=Hurricane Dean Intermediate Advisory Nineteen A|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-17|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.public_a.019.shtml?] Tropical Storm warnings were issued for the rest of Hispaniolacite web|author=Avila/Mainelli|date=2007-08-17|title=Hurricane Dean Public Advisory Seventeen|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-17|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.public.017.shtml?] and for coastal Cuba between Camagüey and Guantánamo.cite web|author=Avila|date=2007-08-18|title=Hurricane Dean Intermediate Advisory Twenty Two A|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-18|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.public_a.022.shtml?] Hundreds of thousands were evacuated from vulnerable low-lying and coastal areascite web|author=Staff Writer|date=2007-08-19|title=Monster hurricane bears down on Jamaica|publisher=Agence France-Presse|accessdate=2007-08-19|url=http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/world/monster-hurricane-bears-down-on-jamaica-20070818-u22.html] and disaster management programs were activated throughout the Greater Antilles.cite web|author=World Vision|Publisher=Relief Web|date=2007-08-18|accessdate=2007-08-25|title=As hurricane looms over Caribbean, relief teams prepare: World Vision positioning relief supplies for immediate response when storm hits Hispaniola|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/SODA-7679EY?OpenDocument&rc=2&emid=TC-2007-000135-LCA] cite web|author=United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)|publisher=Relief Web|date=2007-08-18|accessdate=2007-08-26|title=Hurricane Dean OCHA Situation Report No. 2|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/ACIO-768BH8?OpenDocument&rc=2&emid=TC-2007-000135-LCA] cite web|author=Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA)|publisher=Relief Web|date=2007-08-18|accessdate=2007-08-26|title=Hurricane Dean Situation Report #3|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/SHES-767SCD?OpenDocument&rc=2&emid=TC-2007-000135-LCA]

Jamaica, which was forecast to bear the brunt of Hurricane Dean, underwent the most extensive preparations. The Jamaican government executed long-standing evacuation plans, including converting the country's national arena into a shelter and relocating inmates from two maximum security prisons. Political parties in the island suspended their campaigning for the August 27 national elections, to allow residents to prepare for the storm.cite news | title = Hurricane Dean bears down on Jamaica | author = Carlos Barria | publisher = Reuters | url = http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070818.wdean0818/BNStory/International/home | date = 2007-08-18 | accessdate = 2007-08-18] Curfews were put in place for parts of the island, while off-duty essential personnel were called back to work. More than 1,000 schools and churches were converted to emergency shelters, but residents only occupied 47 of them before the storm's arrival. Evidently the country's high crime rate led islanders to fear for their belongings should they abandon their homes.cite web|title=Hurricane Dean Pummels Jamaica|author=Howard Campbell| publisher=Washington Post|accessdate=2008-08-14|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/19/AR2007081901365.html|date=2007-08-20] cite web|author=Staff Writer|date=2007-08-19|title=Jamaicans start to feel hurricane|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=2007-08-19|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6954296.stm] UNICEF prepared 4 emergency health kits and 1,000 water containers and Copa Airlines agreed to fly the supplies to Jamaica on its scheduled August 22 flight, if possible. The World Food Program prepared food stocks in nearby Haiti, ready to move them to Jamaica if they were needed.cite web|author=United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)|publisher=Relief Web|date=2007-08-18|accessdate=2007-08-26|title=Hurricane Dean OCHA Situation Report No. 2|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/ACIO-768BH8?OpenDocument&rc=2&emid=TC-2007-000135-LCA] The United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team tried to reach Jamaica, but only one member arrived before all incoming flights were canceled.cite web|author=United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)|publisher=Relief Web|date=2007-08-18|accessdate=2007-08-26|title=Hurricane Dean OCHA Situation Report No. 2|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/ACIO-768BH8?OpenDocument&rc=2&emid=TC-2007-000135-LCA] The United States confirmed that it would offer aid if it was needed,cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6953530.stm|title=Jamaica alert as Dean threatens|publisher=BBC News|date=2007-08-19|accessdate=2008-09-19|author=Staff writer] and the North-West Caribbean Donor Group met to decide what actions would need to be taken.

The island of Hispaniola was also predicted to be heavily affected by the storm. Workers from World Vision supplied food, clean water, medicines and emergency generators in the southern provinces of the Dominican Republic, and in the southern departments of Haiti where hurricane warnings had been issued.cite web|author=World Vision|Publisher=Relief Web|date=2007-08-18|accessdate=2007-08-25|title=As hurricane looms over Caribbean, relief teams prepare: World Vision positioning relief supplies for immediate response when storm hits Hispaniola|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/SODA-7679EY?OpenDocument&rc=2&emid=TC-2007-000135-LCA] In low-lying areas, 1,580 residents of the Dominican Republic and more than 1,000 Haitians were evacuated as the storm approached.. Small craft were advise to stay in port, while Haiti's Toussaint Louverture International Airport was closed.cite news | title = Hurricane Dean Gains Caribbean Strength | author = Jonathan Katz | publisher = Associated Press | url = http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/08/18/international/i082151D73.DTL&feed=rss.news | date = 2007-08-18 | accessdate = 2007-08-18]

The Cayman Islands were expected to suffer badly if Hurricane Dean passed too close, and mandatory evacuations were instigated for the low-lying Little Cayman. [cite news|url=http://www.caycompass.com/cgi-bin/CFPnews.cgi?ID=1024423|title=Little Cayman evacuated|publisher=Caymanian Compass|accessdate=2007-08-19|date=2007-08-18|author=Staff Writer] cite web|author=Government of Cayman Islands|publisher=Relief Web|date=2007-08-18|accessdate=2007-08-25|title=Cayman Islands: Mandatory evacuation|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/LSGZ-768DGA?OpenDocument&rc=2&emid=TC-2007-000135-LCA] Tourists were forbidden from entering the islandcite news|url=http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/August2007/18/c8162.html|title=Cayman Islands Update - Hurricane Dean|accessdate=2007-08-19|date=2007-08-18|publisher=Cayman Islands Department of Tourism|author=Laura Johnston] and extra flights were added to evacuate those that were already there. Schools and civic centers were converted to shelters on Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac, and, despite the mandatory evacuation, one shelter was opened on Little Cayman for the residents who remained there.cite web|author=Government of Cayman Islands|publisher=Relief Web|date=2007-08-18|accessdate=2007-08-25|title=Cayman Islands: Shelters open tomorrow|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/LSGZ-768DEM?OpenDocument&rc=2&emid=TC-2007-000135-LCA] Expecting catastrophic damage, two Royal Navy ships of the Atlantic Patrol Task (North), HMS "Portland" and RFA "Wave Ruler", followed 150 mi (240 km) behind the storm in order to arrive at Cayman as soon after the hurricane as possible.cite web|author=Government of the United Kingdom|publisher=Relief Web|date=2007-08-20|accessdate=2007-08-25|title=Cayman Islands: UK Naval ships prepare to assist with hurricane relief effort|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/SJHG-76B4GS?OpenDocument&rc=2&emid=TC-2007-000135-LCA]

Cuba and Puerto Rico, neither of which were expected to experience the worst of Dean's strength, prepared more modestly. Cuba's Civil Defense evacuated 350,000 people from the coastal provinces.cite web|author=United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)|date=2007-08-20|title=Hurricane Dean OCHA Situation Report No. 4|publisher=Relief Web|accessdate=2007-08-26|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/EKOI-76A4YH?OpenDocument&rc=2&emid=TC-2007-000135-LCA] The government in Havana suspended all tourist programs ahead of the storm. Soldiers and emergency officials were prepared to convert schools and other government buildings into temporary shelters, but stood down when it became evident that they would not needed. The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) deployed a five-member team to Puerto Rico ahead of Hurricane Dean. They were equipped with satellite communication systems to provide video-teleconferencing and help make real-time assessments of any damage.cite web|author=Staff Writer|date=2007-08-17|title=Gulf States Mop Up After Erin, Ramp Up for Hurricane Dean|publisher=Environmental News Service|accessdate=2007-08-17|url=http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/aug2007/2007-08-17-02.asp]

Mexico

With Hurricane Dean's path predicted well in advance of the storm,cite web|author=NHC|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|date=2007-08-22|accessdate=2008-08-20|title=5-Day Track Forecast Cone and Watch/Warning|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/graphics/al04/loop_5W.shtml] the Government of Mexico was able to make ample preparations. On August 17, a state of emergency was declared for the state of Quintana Roo where Dean was expected to make landfall. On August 18 authorities began evacuating touristscite web|author=AFP|date=2007-08-21|title=Hurricane Dean turns deadly|publisher=France 24|accessdate=2007-08-19|url=http://www.france24.com/france24Public/en/archives/news/americas/20070821-hurricane-dean-category-5-mexico-calderon.php] and those residents living in the most vulnerable parts of Quintana Roo.cite news | title = Hurricane Dean bears down on Jamaica | author = Carlos Barria | publisher = Reuters | url = http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070818.wdean0818/BNStory/International/home | date = 2007-08-18 | accessdate = 2007-08-18] cite web | title = Declara SEGOB emergencia en Quintana Roo | url = http://www.esmas.com/noticierostelevisa/mexico/654298.html | author = Staff writer | publisher = Notimex | date = 2007-08-17 | accessdate = 2007-08-17 | language = Spanish] The state government set up storm shelters in schools and other public buildings. With emergency supplies at the ready, the state of Yucatán, Quintana Roo's neighbour to the northwest, declared a green alert.cite web | title = Preparativos en Yucatán por el huracán Dean | url = http://www.yucatan.com.mx/noticia.asp?cx=11$3403000000$3620633&f=20070817 | date = 2007-08-17 | accessdate = 2007-08-18 | author = Staff writer | publisher = Diario de Yucatán | language =Spanish] On August 19 a hurricane watch was issued on the Yucatán Peninsula from Chetumal to San Felipe and residents made their last-minute preparations.cite web|author=Franklin/Rhome|date=2007-08-19|title=Hurricane Dean Public Advisory Twenty Six|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-19|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.public.026.shtml?]

Belize

A hurricane warning was issued for the coastal locations north of Belize City with the forecast of 150 mph (240 km/h) winds.cite web|author=BBC Staff Writer|date=2007-08-21|title=Hurricane Dean hits Mexico coast|publisher=BBC|accessdate=2007-08-21|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6955163.stm] The government instituted a dusk-to-dawn curfew from Belize City to the Mexican border. On August 16 and 17, Prime Minister Said Musa chaired two meetings of Belize's National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO). He instructed the newly created Coastguard to evacuate popular tourist sites Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye by boat and plane.cite web|author=NPR.org|publisher=National Public Radio|date=2007-08-21|accessdate=2008-07-23|title=Hurricane Dean Weakens, Expected to Spare Texas|url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=13817871] cite web|author=James Janmohamed|Date=2007-08-18|title=San Pedro prepares for evacuation|publisher=San Pedro Daily|accessdate=2007-08-18|url=http://www.sanpedrodaily.com/8-18-07.html] Authorities also evacuated Belize City's three hospitals, moving high-risk patients inland to the capital Belmopan. The mayor urged residents to leave Belize City and to make use of shelters in the capital.

The United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination team dispatched two members to Belize City and the rest of the team traveled to Belmopan. Government supplies were stored in Orange Walk, Corozal ready for post-storm relief. Essential equipment from the Red Cross and the Pan American Health Organization was stored in the elevated UNICEF building and the Belize City UN building was converted to a crisis center.

Gulf of Mexico

Oil futures spiked on August 15 as analysts considered the impact of Hurricane Dean on refining capacity if it were to move into the Caribbean as predicted.cite web|author=Polya Lesova|date=2007-08-15|title=Crude oil, natural gas rise sharply on storm worries|publisher=MarketWatch|accessdate=2007-08-15|url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/crude-oil-natural-gas-rise/story.aspx?guid=%7B8A811294-C6BC-495A-B73F-86C13FCA77E4%7D] cite web|author=Alejandro Bodipo-Memba|date=2007-08-16|title=When gas prices go up, blame Dean|publisher=Detroit Free Press|accessdate=2007-08-15|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.fstadv.011.shtml?] Transocean evacuated 11 nonessential workers late on August 15 from an oil rig located about 160 mi (260 km) southeast of New Orleans. The company left about 125 personnel on board the structure.cite web | url = http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,293529,00.html | title = Storm-Drenched Texas Prepare for Hurricane Dean | publisher = Associated Press | author = Staff writer | date = 2007-08-16 | accessdate = 2007-08-17] A day later, Royal Dutch Shell evacuated 275 ancillary staff, following an evacuation of 188 due to Tropical Storm Erin.

On August 18, 2007, 10,300 barrels (1,210 m³) of oil and 11 million cubic feet (310,000 m³) of natural gas were shut-in per day, accounting for 0.8% of crude production in the Gulf of Mexico. By 11:30 a.m. CST (1630 UTC), two rigs and one platform evacuated personnel.cite web | author = Minerals Management Service | publisher = United States Department of Interior | date = 2007-08-18 | accessdate = 2007-08-18 | title = Hurricane Dean Statistics Update | url = http://www.mms.gov/ooc/press/2007/press0818.htm]

Pemex, the state-owned Mexican oil company, made preparations to shut down oil production on August 19 ahead of Dean.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6953530.stm|title=Jamaica alert as Dean threatens|publisher=BBC News|date=2007-08-19|author=Staff writer] It evacuated 13,360 workers from more than 140 oil platforms, using 55 boats and 29 helicopters. As the storm continued to intensify, the number of evacuated Pemex workers increased to 18,000 on August 20, and all 407 wells and drilling operations were abandoned. This reduced the worldwide production of oil and natural gas by 2.65 million barrels (311,000 m³) and 2.6 billion cubic feet (74,000 m³) per day, respectively.cite news|author=David Ovalle, Jacqueline Charles and Martin Merzer|date=2007-08-20|title=Dean's rain reaches Mexico; damage reported in Jamaica|publisher=Miami Herald|accessdate=2007-08-20]

Other regions

Throughout the Caribbean Sea, about a dozen cruise ships altered their routes to avoid Hurricane Dean.cite news | author = Staff writer | publisher = Associated Press | title = Hurricane Dean Gains Power in Caribbean | date = 2007-08-17 | accessdate = 2007-08-17] Honduras was put on a state of preventative alert for 48 hours, particularly the departments to the north of the country; the Bay Islands were on a state of red alert. There were places ready to accommodate 10,000 people for 15 days if necessary. [cite news | title = Autoridades decretan alerta roja en Islas de la Bahía | url = http://www.webcitation.org/5aC4Fwv2u | publisher = La Prensa | date = 2007-08-19 | accessdate = 2007-08-20 | language = Spanish|author=Cathy Rose]

In the United States, the Louisiana Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness activated its Crisis Action Team on August 16 to monitor the storm and coordinate preparation.cite web|author=Staff Writer|date=2007-08-17|title=Gulf States Mop Up After Erin, Ramp Up for Hurricane Dean|publisher=Environmental News Service|accessdate=2007-08-17|url=http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/aug2007/2007-08-17-02.asp] Governor of Louisiana Kathleen Blanco declared a state of emergency early on the evening of August 17,cite web|author=Associated Press|date=2007-08-17|title=Blanco declares state of emergency|publisher=WWLTV|accessdate=2007-08-18|url=http://www.wwltv.com/topstories/stories/wwl081707blanco.440718ba.html] asking for a presidential emergency declaration to give Louisiana access to federal funds prior to any landfall.cite web|author=Staff Writer|year=2007|title=Gulf States Mop Up After Erin, Ramp Up for Hurricane Dean|publisher=Environmental News Service|accessdate=2007-08-17|url=http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/aug2007/2007-08-17-02.asp] Texas Governor Rick Perry declared Dean to be an imminent threat to the state, and thus initiated a full-scale hurricane preparedness effort on August 17 when the storm was at least five days away.cite web|author=Governor Rick Perry|year=2007|title=Gov. Perry Declares Hurricane Dean Imminent Threat to Texas|publisher=Office of the Governor|accessdate=2007-08-17|url=http://governor.state.tx.us/news/press-release/2173/] Prior to the storm, Texas suffered severe flooding from several June–July storms, and Tropical Storm Erin left the ground still saturated. Governor Perry feared that more rainfall from Dean would cause additional flash floodingcite news|author=Elizabeth White|year=2007|title=Texas Soaked by Erin, Braces for Dean|publisher=Forbes|accessdate=2007-08-17] , and had 250 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department crews on standby with boats to assist in potential evacuations. He was willing to deploy up to 10,000 Texas Military Forces soldiers, and did deploy several elements of the Texas State Guard who set up emergency shelters.cite web|author=Staff Writer|year=2007|title=Gulf States Mop Up After Erin, Ramp Up for Hurricane Dean|publisher=Environmental News Service|accessdate=2007-08-17|url=http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/aug2007/2007-08-17-02.asp] The Texas fuel industry began surging fuel loads to coastal counties to ensure adequate fuel in the event of the hurricane causing a disruption to the fuel distribution system.cite web|author=Staff Writer|year=2007|title=Gulf States Mop Up After Erin, Ramp Up for Hurricane Dean|publisher=Environmental News Service|accessdate=2007-08-17|url=http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/aug2007/2007-08-17-02.asp] In anticipation of evacuations, the Texas Department of Transportation began working on extra evacuation lanes and contraflow.cite web|author=Staff Writer|year=2007|title=Gulf States Mop Up After Erin, Ramp Up for Hurricane Dean|publisher=Environmental News Service|accessdate=2007-08-17|url=http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/aug2007/2007-08-17-02.asp] NASA cut short the STS-118 mission as a precaution, in case Dean approached Mission Control at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston.cite news | url = http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-32663630_ITM | title = Storm warnings posted in Jamaica, Caymans | author = Jacqueline Charles | coauthors = Jim Wyss and Martin Merzer | publisher = The Miami Herald | date = 2007-08-18 | accessdate = 2007-08-18] To that effect, mission managers cut the mission's final spacewalk short by two hours,cite news | author = Staff writer | publisher = Associated Press | title = Hurricane Dean Forces NASA To Scale Back Final Spacewalk | date = 2007-08-18 | accessdate = 2007-08-18] allowing them to land a day earlier than originally planned.cite web | url = http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts118/news/STS-118-20.html | author = Mission Control Center | publisher = National Aeronautics and Space Administration | accessdate = 2007-08-18 | date = 2007-08-18 | title = STS-118 MCC Status Report #20]

Impact

Fifteen countries felt the effects of Hurricane Dean as its path through the Caribbean Sea claimed 42 lives. The hurricane first brushed the Lesser Antilles on August 17, 2007, and as it passed through the interior of the Caribbean its outer rain bands swept over the Greater Antilles. It passed Jamaica as a Category 4 hurricane, and strengthened to a Category 5 storm as it made landfall on Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula on August 21. A second landfall on August 22 was less devastating.

Lesser Antilles

Hurricane Dean entered the Caribbean as a Category 2 hurricane through the Saint Lucia Channel on August 17.cite web|author=Avila|date=2007-08-17|title=Tropical Storm Dean Discussion Seventeen|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-17|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.discus.017.shtml?] It moved briskly between the Lesser Antillean islands of St. Lucia and Martinique, with its storm surge and rain bands reaching every island in the chain. Damage was most severe in Martinique where total damage was estimated at €400 million and three indirect deaths, while nearby Guadaloupe suffered €400 million of damage. In St. Lucia, damage was mostly caused by the high seas and was estimated at US$18 million.

Martinique experienced 75 mph (120 km/h) winds with gusts to 105 mph (170 km/h). The torrential rainfall, which reached 332 mm (13.07 in) caused flooding throughout the island, with the town of Rivière-Pilote flooding completely. The majority of Martinique's population were left without electricity, water, telephone, or food, and 600 Martiniquans were left homeless.cite web|author=Staff Writer|date=2007-08-20|title=Heavy losses for Martinique; Eastern Caribbean reopens after Dean|publisher=Caribbean360| accessdate=2007-08-22|url=http://www.caribbean360.com/News/Weather/Stories/2007/08/20/NEWS0000004782.html] cite web | url = http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/hurricane-dean-intensifies/2007/08/18/1186857814654.html | title = Hurricane Dean intensifies | publisher = Agence France-Presse | author = Staff writer | date = 2007-08-18 | accessdate = 2007-08-18] cite web|author=Danik Ibraheem Zandwonis|publisher=Caribbean Net News|date=2007-08-23|accessdate=2007-08-23|title=Guadeloupe and Martinique after Dean|url=http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/news-3166--49-49--.html] The storm destroyed Martinique's entire banana crop, and 70% of the island's sugar cane plantations. [cite web | url = http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id=a8b3574c-38b9-4843-8ec3-8c550c33a27b | title = Hurricane destroys Martinique, Guadeloupe bananas | publisher = Reuters | author = Staff writer | date = 2007-08-18 | accessdate = 2007-08-18] The damage to these two agricultural sectors accounted for the majority of the island's €400 million damage.

On the evening of August 16, 12 hours before the storm arrived in St. Lucia, power outages began in some of the island's neighborhoods. The night saw heavy rains, 1.58 in (40 mm) at St. Lucia's Hewanorra International Airport, [cite web|author=Computer Generated|publisher=Weather Underground|date=2007-08-16|accessdate=2008-08-17|title=History for Hewanorra, St. Lucia: Thursday, August 16, 2007|url=http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/TLPL/2007/8/16/DailyHistory.html?req_city=NA&req_state=NA&req_statename=NA] [cite web|author=Computer Generated|publisher=Weather Underground|date=2007-08-17|accessdate=2008-08-17|title=History for Hewanorra, St. Lucia: Friday, August 17, 2007|url=http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/TLPL/2007/8/17/DailyHistory.html?req_city=NA&req_state=NA&req_statename=NA] and intense thunderstorms and by morning hurricane force winds peaked at 90 mph (145 km/h).cite web|author=Amselma Aimable|date=2007-08-18|title=Report from St Lucia|publisher=Caribbean Net News| accessdate=2007-08-22|url=http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/news-3095--20-20--.html] The winds uprooted trees,cite web|author=Staff writer|date=2007-08-17|title=Hurricane hits eastern Caribbean|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=2007-08-17|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6950626.stm] downed electricity poles, disabled bridges, triggered landslides, and damaged several roofs. Saint Lucia's capital, Castries, was flooded by the storm surge which left boulders and fishing boats on the streets. One person drowned in Sarrot after being swept away by a rain-swollen river while trying to recover a cow.cite web|author=BBC NEWS|date=2007-08-17|title=Caribbean storm gathers strength|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=2007-08-17|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6950626.stm] Hurricane Dean damaged the roofs of two of the island's hospitals, but no one was injured.cite web|author=PAHO/WHO Caribbean Program Coordination|date=2007-08-23|accessdate=2007-08-24|publisher=Pan American Health Organization|title=Hurricane Dean in the Caribbean and Mexico, August 21, 2007|url=http://www.paho.org/English/DD/PED/HurricaneDean807.htm] cite web|author=CTV.ca News Staff|date=2007-08-17|title=Hurricane Dean upgraded to powerful Category 4|publisher=CTV.ca|accessdate=2007-08-17|url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070817/dean_storm_070817/20070817?hub=CTVNewsAt11] Several other buildings were damaged, mostly on the island's northern coast which was most exposed to the hurricane.cite web|author=United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)|date=2007-08-21|title=Hurricane Dean OCHA Situation Report No. 5|publisher=Relief Web| accessdate=2007-08-22|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/EKOI-76B7U6?OpenDocument] The Ministry of Education reported that 11 schools had sustained a combined total of EC$300,000 of damage,cite web|author=CDERA|date=2007-08-21|accessdate=2007-08-22|publisher=CDERA.org|title=CDERA Mounts Level Two Response to Hurricane Dean Impact Update August 21, 2007, 4 p.m. EDT|url=http://www.cdera.org/cunews/uploads/hurricane_deansitrep7.pdf|format=PDF] and nationwide damage to housing and buildings totaled EC$800,000.cite web|author=CDERA|date=2007-08-21|accessdate=2007-08-22|publisher=CDERA.org|title=CDERA Mounts Level Two Response to Hurricane Dean Impact Update August 21, 2007, 4 p.m. EDT|url=http://www.cdera.org/cunews/uploads/hurricane_deansitrep7.pdf|format=PDF] The Ministry of Communications, Works, Transport, and Public Utilities reported that most of the country's major infrastructure remained functional, and no long-term disruptions occurred.cite web|author=CDERA|date=2007-08-21|accessdate=2007-08-22|publisher=CDERA.org|title=CDERA Mounts Level Two Response to Hurricane Dean Impact Update August 21, 2007, 4 p.m. EDT|url=http://www.cdera.org/cunews/uploads/hurricane_deansitrep7.pdf|format=PDF] cite web|author=United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)|date=2007-08-21|title=Hurricane Dean OCHA Situation Report No. 5|publisher=Relief Web| accessdate=2007-08-22|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/EKOI-76B7U6?OpenDocument]

The hardest hit area of Saint Lucia was its agricultural sector. convert|5000|acre|km2|0 of banana farms in Mabouya Valley, Roseau Valley, and Marc Marc were severely damaged with many of the plantations waterlogged or outright destroyed.cite web|author=Amselma Aimable|date=2007-08-18|title=Report from St Lucia|publisher=Caribbean Net News| accessdate=2007-08-22|url=http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/news-3095--20-20--.html] cite web|date=2007-08-17|title=Hurricane claims one life in St. Lucia and possibly two in Dominica|author=Staff Writer|publisher=CBC|accessdate=2007-08-17|url=http://www.cbc.bb/content/view/12195/45/|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5axkRsHjT|archivedate=2008-09-19] An average of 75% of the crops were lost, with fields in the Northern Farms losing up to 80% and in the Roseau Valley losing up to 85%. The cost to the agriculture industry was $13.2 million, bringing Hurricane Dean's total cost on the island to $17.3 million (US$6.4 million in 2007) or 0.5% of the nation's GDP.cite web|author=CDERA|date=2007-08-21|accessdate=2007-08-22|publisher=CDERA.org|title=CDERA Mounts Level Two Response to Hurricane Dean Impact Update August 21, 2007, 4 p.m. EDT|url=http://www.cdera.org/cunews/uploads/hurricane_deansitrep7.pdf|format=PDF] cite web|author=CIA|date=2007-08-16|publisher=Central Intelligence Agency|accessdate=2007-08-22|title=St. Lucia: Economy|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/st.html] cite web|author=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)|date=2007-08-22|title=Thousands in need of humanitarian assistance after Hurricane Dean|publisher=Relief Web|accessdate=2007-08-23|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/EVOD-76CHTB?OpenDocument&rc=2&cc=dma]

Greater Antilles

The storm passed to the south of most of the Greater Antilles, though its outer rain bands crossed many of the islands, and delivered hurricane force winds to Jamaica. Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the Cayman Islands were mostly spared,cite web|language = Spanish|author=Staff Writer|date=2007-08-18|title=Se aleja huracán "Dean" de Puerto Rico sin causar daños|publisher=Milenio|accessdate=2007-08-17|url=http://www.milenio.com/index.php/2007/08/18/108576/|archiveurl=http://noticiasdelagua.blogspot.com/2007/08/1340-se-aleja-huracn-dean-de-puerto.html|archivedate=2007-08-18] though Hurricane Dean passed 50 to 60 mi (80 to 95 km) south of Jamaica as a Category 5 hurricane.cite web|author=Franklin/Rhome|date=2007-08-19|title=Hurricane Dean Public Advisory Twenty Seven|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-19|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.public.027.shtml?] In Jamaica the rain caused flooding on the eastern side of the island and landslides on the northeast end.cite web|author=Staff Writer|date=2007-08-20|title=Hurricane batters Jamaica's south|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=2007-08-20|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6954296.stm] At least two direct deaths were confirmed.cite web|author=Government of Jamaica|date=2007-08-20|title=Jamaica OPDEM Situation Report No. 8|publisher=Relief Web|accessdate=2007-08-26|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/KHII-76A477?OpenDocument&rc=2&emid=TC-2007-000135-LCA] Over 1,500 roofs were lost, primarily to the hurricane force winds,cite web|author=Government of Jamaica|publisher=Relief Web|date=2007-08-24|accessdate=2007-08-26|title=Jamaica: USAID hands over emergency relief supplies|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/SODA-76E487?OpenDocument&rc=2&emid=TC-2007-000135-LCA] and 1,582 of the 3,127 damaged homes were uninhabitable.cite web|author=United States Agency for International Development (USAID)|publisher=Relief Web|date=2007-08-24|accessdate=2007-08-26|title=Latin America and the Caribbean – Hurricane Season 2007 Fact Sheet #3 (FY 2007)|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/SODA-76E3GX?OpenDocument&rc=2&emid=TC-2007-000135-LCA] Landslides and fallen trees blocked hundreds of roads, particularly in the rural northeast region.cite web|author=Government of Jamaica|publisher=Relief Web|date=2007-08-21|accessdate=2007-08-26|title=Jamaica OPDEM Situation Report No. 9|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/EDIS-76ASSV?OpenDocument&rc=2&emid=TC-2007-000135-LCA] cite web|author=Government of Jamaica|date=2007-08-22|title=Jamaica: Post-Hurricane Dean clean-up activities continues|publisher=Relief Web|accessdate=2007-08-26|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/KHII-76C3FW?OpenDocument&rc=2&emid=TC-2007-000135-LCA] As in the Lesser Antilles, Jamaica suffered severe damage to its agricultural sector. Forty percent of the sugarcane crop, 80 to 100% of the banana crop, 75% of the coffee trees under three years old, and 20% of the top layer of the cocoa crop were lost.cite web|author=United States Agency for International Development (USAID)|publisher=Relief Web|date=2007-08-24|accessdate=2007-08-26|title=Latin America and the Caribbean – Hurricane Season 2007 Fact Sheet #3 (FY 2007)|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/SODA-76E3GX?OpenDocument&rc=2&emid=TC-2007-000135-LCA] Hurricane Dean affected 248 roads, including 186 that were blocked:cite web|author=Government of Jamaica|publisher=Relief Web|date=2007-08-21|accessdate=2007-08-26|title=Jamaica OPDEM Situation Report No. 9|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/EDIS-76ASSV?OpenDocument&rc=2&emid=TC-2007-000135-LCA] cite web|author=Government of Jamaica|date=2007-08-22|title=Jamaica: Post-Hurricane Dean clean-up activities continues|publisher=Relief Web|accessdate=2007-08-26|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/KHII-76C3FW?OpenDocument&rc=2&emid=TC-2007-000135-LCA] 10 were blocked in the Kingston metropolitan region,cite web|author=Government of Jamaica|publisher=Relief Web|date=2007-08-21|accessdate=2007-08-26|title=Jamaica OPDEM Situation Report No. 9|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/EDIS-76ASSV?OpenDocument&rc=2&emid=TC-2007-000135-LCA] 14 sections were blocked in St. Andrew, 43 roads were blocked in St. Catherine, eight roads were blocked in the Western Region (Saint James, Hanover, Westmoreland, and Trelawny), and 110 roads were blocked in the Northeast region.cite web|author=Government of Jamaica|date=2007-08-22|title=Jamaica: Post-Hurricane Dean clean-up activities continues|publisher=Relief Web|accessdate=2007-08-26|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/KHII-76C3FW?OpenDocument&rc=2&emid=TC-2007-000135-LCA]

Haiti and the Dominican Republic, which share the island of Hispaniola, were spared much of the hurricane's force, as it passed 170 mi (270 km) to their south.cite web|author=Avila|title=Hurricane Dean Public Advisory Twenty Three|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-18|date=2007-08-18|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.public.023.shtml?] cite web|author=Staff Writer|date=2007-08-18|title=Dominican Republic feels effects of Hurricane Dean|publisher=Dominican Republic News|accessdate=2007-08-19|url=http://www.dominicantoday.com/app/article.aspx?id=25136] However, 15 people were killed among the island's two nations.cite web|author=United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)|publisher=Relief Web|date=2007-08-19|accessdate=2007-08-25|title=Hurricane Dean OCHA Situation Report No. 3|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/EKOI-769457?OpenDocument&rc=2&emid=TC-2007-000135-LCA] cite web|author=United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs|publisher=United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs|date=2007-08-24|accessdate=2007-08-26|title=Situation Report 7 - Hurricane Dean - August 24, 2007|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWFiles2007.nsf/FilesByRWDocUnidFilename/SODA-76E3D3-full_report.pdf/$File/full_report.pdf|format=PDF] Heavy rain flooded the streets of Santo Domingocite web|author=United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)|publisher=Relief Web|date=2007-08-21|accessdate=2007-08-25|title=Hurricane Dean OCHA Situation Report No. 5|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/EKOI-76B7U6?OpenDocument&rc=2&emid=TC-2007-000135-LCA] and rough surf pounded the coast.cite web|author=AP Staff Writer|date=2007-08-19|title=Tourists in Caribbean jam airports to escape Hurricane Dean|publisher=The Hindi|accessdate=2007-08-19|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/003200708190952.htm] Rain also caused landslides in Haiti,cite news | author=Chris Kraul | title=Mighty hurricane advances on Mexico | url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/mighty-hurricane-rips-into-jamaica/2007/08/20/1187462176029.html | date = 2007-08-21 |accessdate=2008-09-19|publisher=Sydney Morning Herald] destroying several hundred homes and forcing 5,154 people into temporary shelters,cite web|author=United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)|publisher=Relief Web|date=2007-08-19|accessdate=2007-08-25|title=Hurricane Dean OCHA Situation Report No. 3|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/EKOI-769457?OpenDocument&rc=2&emid=TC-2007-000135-LCA] and compromising the temperamental water system in the town of Bainet.

Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Cayman Islands experienced high surf and heavy rains, though despite a power outage in Grand Cayman,cite web|author=Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)|publisher=Relief Web|date=2007-08-20|accessdate=2007-08-25|title=Hurricane Dean in the Caribbean: Situation Report 20 Aug 2007|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/SODA-76A3TN?OpenDocument&rc=2&emid=TC-2007-000135-LCA] no significant damage was reported. There, 2000 people weathered the storm in temporary shelters. The hurricane's outer bands swept over Cuba between August 19 and August 21, bringing heavy rain and high seas, yet sparing the island from damaging winds.cite web|author=Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)|publisher=Relief Web|date=2007-08-20|accessdate=2007-08-25|title=Hurricane Dean in the Caribbean: Situation Report 20 Aug 2007|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/SODA-76A3TN?OpenDocument&rc=2&emid=TC-2007-000135-LCA] Rain from Hurricane Dean flooded several roads throughout Puerto Rico, and there was heavy surf along the island's coast, but no deaths or injuries were reported.

Mexico

The hurricane strengthened right up until it made landfall near Majahual on the Quintana Roo coast of the Yucatán Peninsula on August 21, 2007 as a Category 5 hurricane. Wind gusts of 200 mph (320 km/h) were reported. The state's tourist cities of Cancún and Cozumel were spared the worst of the storm, but it wreaked havoc in the state capital Chetumal, 40 mi (65 km) south of landfall, causing significant flooding. cite web|publisher=Yahoo!|author=Mark Stevenson (AP)|date=2007-08-21|title= Category 5 Hurricane Dean slams Mexico|accessdate=2007-08-21|url=http://www.webcitation.org/5RGSPIwrU] The town of Majahual, which had a population of 200, was totally destroyed by the storm. Storm surge and high winds severely damaged or destroyed hundreds of buildingscite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/08/26/TREVRN98B.DTL|title=Travelers' Checks: Hurricane Dean knocks out Costa Maya cruise port|publisher=San Francisco Chronicle|date=2007-08-26|accessdate=2007-08-27|author=Spud Hilton, John Flinn, Larry Habegger] and had the strength to crumple steel girders. The waves tore away portions of the concrete docks at Costa Maya's popular cruise port and the harbor was closed to cruise ships for almost a year.cite web|url=http://www.fodors.com/news/story_2690.html|title=Hurricane Dean: Don't Cancel Your Trip|accessdate=2008-06-27|date=2007-08-29|publisher=Fordor's|author=Staff Writers] Remarkably, not a single death was attributed to Hurricane Dean's Category 5 landfall, thanks mostly to the government's thorough preparations and forecasters' ample warning.

Following the second landfall on the Veracruz coast, two rivers in the mountains of the state of Hidalgo overflowed, and rain fell as far west as the Pacific coast. Veracruz Governor Fidel Herrera said there was "a tremendous amount of damage". [cite news|url=http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-tr-foreign26aug26|title=Hurricane Dean's wake: updates from Mexico & the Caribbean|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=2007-08-23|accessdate=2007-08-27|author=Diana Dawson] Petroleum production was not severely damagedcite web|author=Staff Writers|work = The Sunday Telegraph|date=2007-08-24|accessdate=2007-08-24|title=Hurricane Dean rains pound Mexico|url=http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22299490-5001028,00.html?from=public_rss] and quickly returned to normal.

Rainfall amounts of 4 to 8 in (100 to 200 mm) fell across the states of Jalisco and Nayarit. [cite web|publisher=Comisión Nacional del Agua|author=Servicio Meteorológico Nacional Mexico|url=http://www.webcitation.org/5RN9OAnZN |title=Remanentes del Ciclón Tropical "Dean"|date=2007-08-03|accessdate=2007-08-25] This rainfall caused one fatality in Jalisco after a mudslide fell on 10 houses, killing one of the occupants.cite web|author=Staff Writer|publisher=earthtimes.org|date=2007-08-24|accessdate=2007-08-24|title= Death toll reaches 11 from Hurricane Dean in Mexico|url=http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/97770.html] Five people were killed in Puebla by landslides, and one more was crushed after a wall on his house collapsed. One person in Veracruz was electrocuted after touching a power line while doing roof repairs. In Michoacán, a man was struck by lightning under a tree in the outer bands of the storm, and two people died in Hidalgo when the roof collapsed in their house.cite web|author=Tomas Bravo|publisher=Reuters|date=2007-08-22|accessdate=2007-08-22|title=Hurricane Dean slams Mexico's Gulf coast, kills two|url=http://mobile.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N22182914.htm|archivedate=2008-09-19|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5axkv2CYT] cite web|author=Staff Writers|work = The Sunday Telegraph|date=2007-08-24|accessdate=2007-08-24|title=Hurricane Dean rains pound Mexico|url=http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22299490-5001028,00.html?from=public_rss] Hurricane Dean killed 12 people in Mexico but remarkably no one was killed by its first (and catastrophically powerful) landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula. Between the two landfalls damages, focused mainly in the agricultural sector, totaled Mex$2.05 billion (US$1.6 million).

Belize

The town of Corozal on Belize's northern border experienced the worst conditions in the country. Trees were downed throughout the town, and minor flooding was reported.cite web|author=Tech. Sgt. Sonny Cohrs|publisher=American Forces Press Service, News Articles|date=2007-08-22|accessdate=2008-07-23|title=U.S. Assessment Team Arrives in Belize Behind Hurricane Dean|url=http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=47139] Eight thousand were displaced to shelters, though all returned home in less that two days. Throughout the entire country, the Belizean Ministry of Health reported no storm-related fatalities and only a few minor injuries.cite web|author=United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)|publisher=ReliefWeb|date=2007-08-22|accessdate=2008-07-23|title=Hurricane Dean OCHA Situation Report No. 6|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/EKOI-76C2TH?OpenDocument]

Belize's agricultural sector received significant damage. Its sugar cane fields and papaya crops suffered extensive damage.cite web|author=Blake Hounshell|publisher=Foreign Policy|date=2007-08-22|accessdate=2008-07-24|title=Hurricane Dean's big winner: sugar?|url=http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/node/5963] The Belizian Government's National Emergency Management Organization estimated Dean's damage to the papaya industry at BZ$30 million and to the sugar industry at 6000 acres worth BZ$3.6 million.cite web|author=Staff Writer|publisher=The San Pedro Sun|date=2007-08-30|accessdate=2008-07-23|title=Hurricane Dean costs Belize $107 Million +|url=http://www.sanpedrosun.net/old/07-342.html] Belize Sugar Industries Ltd. reported that the country's sugar crop that year was the worst on record, producing 980,000 lb (445,000 kg) of sub-standard cane, compared to 1.2 million lb (545,000 kg) of high quality cane the year before.cite web|author=Manuela Ayuso|publisher=LoveFM|date=2008-07-08|accessdate=2008-07-24|title=Worse sugar season reported by Belize sugar industry|url=http://www.lovefm.com/ndisplay.php?nid=8206] More than 1000 people were out of work as a result of the damage to the papaya and sugar cane plantations. The government attempted to improve the next crop season in 2008 by providing fertilizers to the farmers whose land had been damaged by Dean the year before.cite web|author=Staff Writer|publisher=Government of Belize, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries|date=2008-01-14|accessdate=2008-07-24|title=Northern Cane Farmers Provided with Much Needed Fertilizers|url=http://www.governmentofbelize.gov.bz/press_release_details.php?pr_id=4815] Prime Minister Said Musa estimated that the hurricane's total cost amounted to US$10 million.

Other regions

No land effects were been reported in Nicaragua but a four-year-old girl drowned on a boat that sank amidst high winds and waves at the mouth of the Kukra River.

While the hurricane itself never approached the United States, heavy surf and rip currents were reported on the beaches of Florida. One person drowned and at least 35 people had to be rescued from the turbulent waters at Siesta Key caused by Hurricane Dean.cite web|author=Sarasota Herald-Tribune|publisher=The Tampa Tribune|date=2007-08-23|accessdate=2007-08-25|title=Lifeguards Rescue More Than 35 Off Siesta Key|url=http://www2.tbo.com/content/2007/aug/23/lifeguards-rescue-more-35-currents-siesta-key/?news-breaking] The remnant circulation of Dean, after lingering off the Pacific Coast, moved inland by Santa Barbara, California, and brought heavy thunderstorms and localized flooding to coastal Southern California on the morning of August 26."cite web|author=SignOnSanDiego News Services|publisher=San Diego Union-Tribune|date=2007-08-26|accessdate=2007-09-06|title=Thunderstorms dump rain on North County
url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/northcounty/20070826-0925-rain.html] The remnants crossed the Mojave Desert on the morning of August 27. Las Vegas, Nevada, received a daily record of 0.58 in (15 mm) of rain, with flash flooding and minor damage."cite web|author=AccuWeather.com|publisher=AccuWeather|date=2007-08-28|accessdate=2007-09-06|title=AccuWeather.com - Weather Blogs- Weather News|url=http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:HSumXZebADUJ:www.accuweather.com/news-top-headline.asp%3Fpartner%3D21864+%22hurricane+dean%22+flooding+las+vegas+0.58&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us]

Aftermath

Despite Dean's significant damage, it did not have severe effects on infrastructure, and the non-agricultural sectors of most affected nations recovered quickly. Most cruise lines diverted their ships away from the Western Caribbean in anticipation of Hurricane Dean's passage, though by August 27 all were back on schedule, except those with damaged ports in Belize and the Yucatan. The Lesser Antilles and the Greater Antilles were especially quick to resume servicing cruise lines, as their ports opened within days.cite web|url=http://www.fodors.com/news/story_2690.html|title=Hurricane Dean: Don't Cancel Your Trip|accessdate=2008-06-27|date=2007-08-29|publisher=Fordor's]

Lesser Antilles

Although Hurricane Dean was only a Category 2 hurricane when its northern eyewall passed over Martinique, the wind and widespread flooding destroyed 70% of the island's sugar cane crop and all of its banana crop, valued at €400 million (US$630 million)cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/TCR-AL042007_Dean.pdf|title=Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Dean|accessdate=2008-07-24|date=2008-01-31|publisher = NOAA|author=Franklin, James L.|format=PDF] or 10% of GDP.cite web|url=http://indexmundi.com/martinique/gdp_(purchasing_power_parity).html|title=Martinique GDP (purchasing power parity)
date=2006-11-01|accessdate=2008-06-29|publisher=IndexMundi|author=Staff Writer] Remarkably the tourism industry withstood the storm well; only a few hotels reported minor damage and the airport opened the day after the hurricane.cite web|url = http://www.fodors.com/news/story_2690.html|title = Hurricane Dean: Don't Cancel Your Trip|accessdate=2008-06-27|date=2007-08-29|publisher = Fordor's] cite web|author=Christel Coïta|publisher=For Immediate Release|date=2007-08-21|accessdate=2008-07-24|title=Martinique Tourism Industry Withstands Hurricane Dean|url=http://www.forimmediaterelease.net/pm/521.html] cite web|author=Steve Bennett|publisher=Martinique Promotion Bureau|date=2007-09-20|accessdate=2008-07-24|title=Hotels report minor cosmetic damage; airport re-opened Saturday, August 18|url=http://www.martinique.org/contacts/press.htm] Other than landscaping damage, all of the island's hotels were fully functional by the end of August.cite web|url = http://www.fodors.com/news/story_2690.html|title = Hurricane Dean: Don't Cancel Your Trip|accessdate = 2008-06-27|date=2007-08-29|publisher = Fordor's]

The French Overseas Minister, Christian Estrozy and French Prime Minister, Francois Fillon visited French Caribbean island to assess the storm's damage. They estimated the storm left 600 people homeless. The brevity of their visit prompted some of Martinique's famous writers, including Edouard Glissant, Patrick Chamoiseau and Raphael Confiant, to write an open letter airing their grievances concerning French politics and the handling of Hurricane Dean's impact.cite web|url = http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/guadeloupe/guadeloupe.php?news_id=3166&start=0&category_id=33|title = Guadeloupe and Martinique after Dean
accessdate=2008-06-29|date = 2007-08-23|publisher = Caribbean Net News|author = AP]

Francois Fillon then visited Guadaloupe and brought with him a team of experts from the Ministry of the Interior to assess the nature and cost of the damage.cite web|url = http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/guadeloupe/guadeloupe.php?news_id=3139&start=0&category_id=33|title = French PM to visit hurricane-hit Caribbean islands |accessdate=2008-06-29|date = 2007-08-21|publisher = Caribbean Net News|author = AP] The local government reported to them that 75% of Guadeloupe's banana plantations, valued at €100 million (US$158 million), were totally destroyed. Despite promises by Overseas Minister Christian Estrosi that all problems would be resolved within three months,cite web|url = http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/guadeloupe/guadeloupe.php?news_id=3302&start=0&category_id=33|title = Dean caused 500m euro damage in French Caribbean|accessdate = 2008-06-29|date = 2007-08-30|publisher = Caribbean Net News|author = AP] it took over six months to restart banana production, and several more to restore lost capacity.cite web|url = http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/guadeloupe/guadeloupe.php?news_id=3093&start=0&category_id=33|title = Hurricane destroys Guadeloupe, Martinique bananas|accessdate=2008-06-29|date = 2007-08-18|publisher = Caribbean Net News|author = AP] Other than the crop damage, the island suffered only minor wind and flooding damage, both of which were quickly repaired.cite web|url = http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=23562&Cr=hurricane&Cr1=|title = UN teams assessing aftermath in Caribbean nations hit by Hurricane Dean|accessdate=2008-06-29|date = 2007-08-21|publisher = UN News Center|author = UN News Service]

Jamaica

On August 24 Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller announced that her government would provide JA$225 million (US$3.2 million) in emergency assistance to the country's agriculture sector. This aid was targeted at the country's hardest-hit parishes.cite web|author=Government of Jamaica|publisher=Relief Web|date=2007-08-24|accessdate=2007-08-26|title=Jamaica: $225 million in emergency aid for agricultural sector|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/SODA-76E4AQ?OpenDocument&rc=2&emid=TC-2007-000135-LCA] She also announced a JA$500 million (US$7.1 million) programme to provide grants and low-interest loans for emergency housing repairs. Temporary tarpaulins were also provided to patch roofs at no cost.cite web|author=Government of Jamaica|publisher=Relief Web|date=2007-08-24|accessdate=2007-08-26|title=Jamaica: NHT establishes $500 million loan fund for emergency repairs|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/SODA-76E49K?OpenDocument&rc=2&emid=TC-2007-000135-LCA]

The World Food Program immediately placed 5,500 Jamaicans on complementary food assistance, a daily ration of 1900 kJ (450 kcal) of High Energy Biscuits, for two weeks.cite web|url = http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/WFP/273c26b985877efbe3edcfa7a95dc2fd.htm|title = Hurricane Dean aftermath: WFP assisting over 10,000 victims in Jamaica and Belize|accessdate=2008-06-29|date = 2007-08-30|publisher = Reuters |author = World Food Program] Within three days US$398,000 of pre-prepared United States Agency for International Development (USAID) emergency supplies arrived on the island. The airlift was composed mostly of mattresses, blankets, plastic sheeting, hygiene kits and water containers.cite web|author=Government of Jamaica|publisher=Relief Web|date=2007-08-24|accessdate=2007-08-26|title=Jamaica: USAID hands over emergency relief supplies|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/SODA-76E487?OpenDocument&rc=2&emid=TC-2007-000135-LCA] The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) provided a US$200,000 grant to support the relief effortcite web|author=Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)|publisher=Relief Web|date=2007-08-24|accessdate=2007-08-26|title=IDB approves US$200,000 grant for relief efforts in Jamaica|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/EDIS-76DLTG?OpenDocument&rc=2&emid=TC-2007-000135-LCA] and the Chinese Red Cross, despite dealing with Typhoon Sepat, sent US$30,000 to its Jamaican counterpart for the purchase of emergency relief supplies.cite web|author=Government of Jamaica|publisher=Relief Web|date=2007-08-25|accessdate=2007-08-26|title=Jamaica: Chinese Red Cross donates US$30,000 for hurricane relief|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/SODA-76E46F?OpenDocument&rc=2&emid=TC-2007-000135-LCA]

In December, four months after the hurricane struck the island, the World Bank’s Board of Directors approved a US$10 million emergency loan.cite web|url = http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/KHII-7A47FW?OpenDocument|title = World Bank approves US$10 million to restore basic community infrastructure in the aftermath of Hurricane Dean|accessdate=2008-06-29|date = 2007-12-20|publisher = Relief Web |author = The World Bank Group] World Bank Director for the Caribbean and the Jamaican Finance Minister negotiated a 17-year repayment plan, and endowed the money into the Jamaica Hurricane Dean Emergency Recovery Project. The Jamaica Social Investment Fund, which was charged with implementing the project, used the money to "rebuild and support schools, health centers, and community and farm roads affected by the hurricane".cite web|url = http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/MUMA-7AQ84E?OpenDocument|title = Jamaica receives US$10 million to restore basic community infrastructure in the aftermath of Hurricane Dean|accessdate = 2008-06-29|date = 2008-01-08|publisher = Relief Web|author = The World Bank Group] cite web|url = http://web.worldbank.org/external/projects/main?Projectid=P109575&theSitePK=40941&pagePK=64283627&menuPK=228424&piPK=73230|title = Jamaica Hurricane Dean ERL|accessdate = 2008-06-29|date = 2008-01-08|publisher = The World Bank Group|author = The World Bank Group] The Hurricane Dean Emergency Recovery Project finally kicked off in June 2008, with the issuance of rural road repair contracts valued at JA$37 million (US$520,000).cite web|url = http://www.jis.gov.jm/officePM/html/20080626T100000-0500_15771_JIS_HURRICANE_DEAN_RECOVERY_PROJECT_TO_BE_LAUNCHED_ON_FRIDAY.asp|title = Jamaica Hurricane Dean Recovery Project to be Launched on Friday|accessdate = 2008-06-29|date = 2008-06-26|publisher = Jamaica Information Service |author = Office of the Prime Minister]

By the end of the summer on 2008, banana production in Jamaica was returning to pre-Dean levels. With the help of JA$1.1 billion (US$15.5 million) of aid from the EU's Banana Support Programme, thousands of acres were replanted. Banana chips were the first products ready for export at the beginning of the summer, with fresh banana production following shortly thereafter. cite web|author=Chris Patterson|publisher=Government of Jamaica, Ministry of Agriculture|date=2008-06-25|accessdate=2008-07-24|title=Banana Industry to be Fully Recovered by the End of Summer|url=http://www.jis.gov.jm/agriculture/html/20080625T100000-0500_15762_JIS_BANANA_INDUSTRY_TO_BE_FULLY_RECOVERED_BY_THE_END_OF_SUMMER.asp]

Mexico

Although Dean's landfall in Mexico occurred in a relatively uninhabited area and the storm's well-predicted track gave ample warning, the storm inflicted extreme damage. In Majahual, the only town to experience the full force of the hurricane, hundreds of buildings were destroyed. Quintana Roo Governor Felix Gonzalez Cantor reported that although the cleanup in the state capital of Chetumal was completed within three weeks, it took more than six months to fix all of the region's more rural roads.cite web|url=http://www.fodors.com/news/story_2690.html|title=Hurricane Dean: Don't Cancel Your Trip|accessdate=2008-06-27|date=2007-08-29|publisher=Fordor's] Unable to handle the hurricane's aftermath, the state government appealed to federal authorities for aid. Together, they established a housing-repair fund which contributed to the reconstruction of over 37,000 residences.cite web|author=Miguel Hidalgo|publisher=Relief Web|date=2007-10-31|accessdate=2008-08-21|title=México: El Presidente Calderón en la entrega de viviendas a damnificados por el Huracán Dean|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/LRON-78JF7E?OpenDocument|language=Spanish]

The cruise port of Puerto Costa Maya was severely damaged, causing Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean Cruises, the world's two largest cruise operators, to divert away from the port until at least 2009.cite web|author=AP|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=2007-09-19|accessdate=2008-07-24|title=Much Hurricane Dean damage at Mexico's Puerto Costa Maya|url=http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-trw-hurricane-dean-damage-at-mexico-port19sep07?parent=tours-cruises&type=interests] The Mexican government was quick to fund rebuilding of the destroyed concrete pierscite web|author=Maite Velez-Couto|publisher=Costa Maya Public Relations Office|date=2007-09-10|accessdate=2008-09-19|title=Costa Maya begins rebuilding process|url=http://www.costamaya-mexico.com/images/pdf/Press-Release-Hurricane-Plans-to-rebuild-Costa-Maya-9.10.07.pdf|format=PDF] which, by June 2008, were rebuilt to accommodate even larger ships than before.cite web|author=Staff Writer|publisher=Caribbean News Digital|date=2008-10-09|accessdate=2008-09-19|title=Costa Maya Reopens with New Zip-Line Adventure|url=http://www.caribbeannewsdigital.com/en/News.aspx?Id=12305]

The Mexican government was initially lauded for its swift and thorough preparation to which most observers, including the United Nations, attributed Dean's low death toll.cite web|author=United Nations|publisher=Scoop Independent News|date=2007-08-22|accessdate=2008-07-28|title=UN Teams Assessing Aftermath Of Hurricane Dean|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0708/S00568.htm] cite web|author=Diego Cevallos|publisher=Interpress Service|date=2007-08-24|accessdate=2008-07-28|title=Mexico: U.N. applauds nation for hurricane disaster prevention|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-32716228_ITM] However after the storm there were several accusations of political motivation in the distribution of aid. Members of President Felipe Calderón's Partido Accion Nacional (PAN) distributed bags of bread, funded by the nation's disaster relief coffers, carrying the party's logo. In Veracruz Governor Fidel Herrera was accused by both the PAN and his own Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI) of using state resources, including hurricane relief, to support the campaigns of PRI candidates.cite web|author=SourceMex|publisher=Goliath Business Knowledge on Demand|date=2007-08-29|accessdate=2008-07-28|title=Hurricane Dean causes minimal damage in Mexico despite storm's high intensity|url=http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-6907248/HURRICANE-DEAN-CAUSES-MINIMAL-DAMAGE.html]

Retirement

As the first Category 5 landfalling hurricane in 15 years, and due to its widespread impact, the name Dean was officially retired on May 13, 2008 by the World Meteorological Organization during its annual meeting in Orlando, Florida. It was replaced by Dorian on List V of the Atlantic hurricane naming lists, which will next be used in the 2013 Atlantic hurricane season. [cite web|url=http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2008/20080513_stormnames.html|title=Dean, Felix and Noel "Retired" from List of Storm Names|accessdate=2008-05-13|date=2008-05-13|author=NOAA|publisher=NOAA]

ee also

* List of Atlantic hurricanes
* List of Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes
* List of tropical cyclones
* List of retired Atlantic hurricane names

References

External links

*The NHC's [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/DEAN.shtml? archive on Hurricane Dean]
*Hurricane Dean came to [http://picasaweb.google.com/dshphoto/20070823ChandlerAZHurricaneDeanIsComingDownFromMexicoToArizona? Chandler, AZ, McQueen & Pecos, view to the South from Chandler Ranch]
* [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/TCR-AL042007_Dean.pdf Tropical Cyclone Report]