Effects of Hurricane Dean in the Greater Antilles

Infobox Hurricane Impact
Name=Hurricane Dean
Type=hurricane
Year=2007
Basin=Atl
Image location=Dean 2007 1525z aug 18.jpg


Date=August 20, 2007
1-min winds=145
Pressure=920
Da

Inflated=
Fatalities=23
Areas=Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Cayman Islands
Hurricane season=2007 Atlantic hurricane season
Series=Hurricane Dean
Related=Hurricane Dean RelatedThe effects of Hurricane Dean in the Greater Antilles were spread over six countries and included 20 deaths. Hurricane Dean formed in the Atlantic Ocean west of Cape Verde August 14 as part of the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season. The Cape Verde-type hurricane tracked steadily westward into the Caribbean Sea, where it rapidly intensified. Its outer bands swept over the Greater Antilles; the storm surge was felt from the eastern side of Puerto Rico to western tip of Cuba. It brushed the island of Jamaica as a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale before striking Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula at Category 5 strength.

National governments, domestic non-governmental organizations, and international aid agencies established hundreds of shelters, evacuated hundreds of thousands of people, raised millions of dollars of resources, and rallied thousands of rescue workers as the powerful hurricane churned through the Caribbean. Despite a number of near misses, Hurricane Dean did not make landfall in the Greater Antilles and the islands were spared the brunt of the storm.

Six people were killed in the Dominican Republic and another fourteen in Haiti. Three were killed in Jamaica, which also suffered US$310 million of damage—the heaviest in the Caribbean. The most severe damage there was to the agricultural sector—nearly the entire banana crop was destroyed. Global aid organizations contributed to the subsequent recovery effort; immediate life-saving needs were met within days, but the damage to Jamaica's infrastructure and economy took much longer to repair. With loans and grants from the local government, the European Union, and the United Nations normality was restored by the following summer.

Preparations

Hispaniola

A tropical storm watch was issued for the south coast of the Dominican Republic on August 17 at 0300 UTC.cite web|author=Franklin/Brown|year=2007|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?] Later that day the tropical storm watch was upgraded to a tropical storm warning. Additionally, a hurricane watch was issued from Cabo Beata to the Haitian border.cite web|author=Avila/Mainelli|year=2007|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?] This was further upgraded that night with a hurricane warning from Barahona to the Haitian border.cite web|author=Knabb|year=2007|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?] Workers from World Vision, already on the island for unrelated humanitarian work, pre-positioned food, clean water, medicines and emergency generators in the southern provinces 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] As the storm approached, 1,580 people were evacuated.cite 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://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_kmafp/is_200708/ai_n19459445]

A tropical storm watch was issued at 0900 UTC for the southwestern peninsula of Haiti from Port-au-Prince to the Dominican border.cite web|author=Beven|year=2007|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?] This advisory was upgraded the next morning to a tropical storm warning and a hurricane watch,cite web|author=Avila/Mainelli|year=2007|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 that night was further upgraded to a hurricane warning.cite web|author=Knabb|year=2007|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?] The Haitian coastal authority advised all small craft to stay in port, while at Port-au-Prince, all flights to southern Haiti from Toussaint Louverture International Airport were canceled.cite news | title = Hurricane Dean Gains Caribbean Strength | author = Jonathan Katz | publisher = Associated Press | url = http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2007/8/18/125523.shtml | date = 2007-08-18 | accessdate = 2007-08-18] More than 1,000 people were evacuated from low-lying areas and workers from World Vision again pre-positioned relief supplies.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]

Jamaica

On August 17 a hurricane watch was issued for Jamaica.cite web|author=Avila/Mainelli|year=2007|title=Hurricane Dean Public Advisory Nineteen|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-17|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.public.019.shtml?] Prime Minister of Jamaica Portia Simpson-Miller convened an emergency meeting of Jamaica's national disaster preparedness council.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] The Jamaican government finalized evacuation plans, which included 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] The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA), which was already responding to Hurricane Dean's impact in the Lesser Antilles, contacted the Jamaican Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management to confirm technical and logistics support, and to notify the Jamaican government that utilities teams had been placed on standby should they be needed. The North-West Caribbean Donor Group also met to consider what action might it might undertake in Dean's aftermath.cite web|author=Avila|year=2007|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?] Curfews were put in place for parts of the island, while off-duty essential personnel were called back to work. 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=2008-09-02|author=Staff writer] Only one member of a United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination team arrived in Jamaica before all incoming flights were canceled.cite web|title=Hurricane Dean Pummels Jamaica|author=Howard Campbell| publisher=AP|accessdate=2007-08-19|url=http://www.boston.com/news/world/latinamerica/articles/2007/08/19/hurricane_dean_poised_to_hit_jamaica/|date=2007-08-19] 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 stock in nearby Haiti, ready to move them to Jamaica if they were needed.cite web|author=Blake/Avila|year=2007|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?] At 0300 UTC August 17 this advisory was upgraded to a tropical storm warning.cite web|author=Franklin/Brown|year=2007|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?] The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency, eager to make a good showing after its heavily criticized response to Hurricane Katrina, deployed a Federal Incident Response Support Team to the unincorporated territory of the United States ahead of Hurricane Dean. This five-member team of disaster management experts was equipped with satellite communication systems to provide video-teleconferencing and help make real-time assessments of any damage.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]

On August 17 a tropical storm watch was issued for Cuba between the provinces of Camagüey and Guantánamo.cite web|author=Avila/Mainelli|year=2007|title=Hurricane Dean Public Advisory Nineteen|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-17|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.public.019.shtml?] This was upgraded on the afternoon of August 18 to a tropical storm warning.cite web|author=Avila|year=2007|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?] At 0300 UTC August 19 a tropical storm watch was issued for portions of central Cuba: Ciego de Ávila, Sancti Spíritus, Cienfuegos, Matanzas, and Isla de la Juventud.cite web|author=Knabb/Roberts|year=2007|title=Hurricane Dean Public Advisory Twenty Four|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-18|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.public.024.shtml?] If necessary, soldiers and emergency officials were prepared to convert schools and other government buildings into temporary shelters. More than 350,000 people were evacuated by the Civil Defense in 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] and the government in Havana suspended all tourist programs ahead of the storm.

At 1500 UTC on August 18 a hurricane watch was issued for the Cayman Islandscite web|author=Avila|year=2007|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?] and the Emergency Operations Centre was activated.cite web|author=Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA)|publisher=Relief Web|date=2007-08-19|accessdate=2007-08-25|title=Hurricane Dean Situation Report #4|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/EKOI-76934T?OpenDocument&rc=2&emid=TC-2007-000135-LCA] Twelve hours later, as Hurricane Dean continued to track west towards the islands, the hurricane watch was upgraded to a hurricane warning.cite web|author=Knabb/Roberts|year=2007|title=Hurricane Dean Public Advisory Twenty Four|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-08-18|date=2007-08-18|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.public.024.shtml?] Major airlines added flights leaving the islands for tourists to evacuate. Tourists were barred from entering the islands starting August 17.cite news|url=http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/August2007/18/c8162.html|title=Cayman Islands Update - Hurricane Dean|publisher=CNW Group|accessdate=2007-08-19|author=Laura Johnston|date=2007-08-18] A mandatory evacuation order was imposed on the island of Little Cayman by Governor of the Cayman Islands Stuart Jack, and extra flights were initiated between Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. [cite news|url=http://www.caycompass.com/cgi-bin/CFPnews.cgi?ID=1024423|title=Little Cayman evacuated|publisher=Caymanian Compass|accessdate=2008-08-19|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] On August 19, nineteen schools and civic centers were converted to shelters: fifteen on Grand Cayman, three on Cayman Brac, and, despite the mandatory evacuation order in effect, one on Little Cayman.HMS Portland and RFA Wave Ruler, followed 240 km (150 miles) behind the storm in order to arrive at Cayman as soon after the hurricane as possible. It never made landfall in the island chain,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 - 24 August 2007|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWFiles2007.nsf/FilesByRWDocUnidFilename/SODA-76E3D3-full_report.pdf/$File/full_report.pdf|format=PDF] but at Category 4 strength the storm passed just 40 km (25 miles) south of Jamaica. Strengthening again as it passed the islands, Dean reattained Category 5 strength off the eastern tip of Cuba before making landfall in Mexico.Cite web|author=Knabb|year=2007|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?] The massive storm's winds, rains, and storm surge endangered life and property throughout the island chain.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]

Hispaniola

Hurricane Dean passed 270 km south of the Dominican Republic's capital, Santo Domingo, and although the island experienced relatively little wind,cite web|author=Avila|year=2007|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] heavy rain flooded the streets.cite 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] The moderate winds and heavy rains did not damage the agriculture sector as they did elsewhere in the Caribbean.cite web|author=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)|publisher=Relief Web|date=2007-08-22|accessdate=2007-08-25|title=Thousands in need of humanitarian assistance after Hurricane Dean|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/EVOD-76CHTB?OpenDocument&rc=2&emid=TC-2007-000135-LCA] Six deaths were attributed to the effects of the hurricane. The strong wave activity on the southern coastline attracted a crowd of onlookers and a 16-year-old boy was swept out to sea and drowned as he watched 16-foot (4.8 m) swells break over a road in Santo Domingo.cite web|author=Jacqueline Charles, Jim Wyss, Trenton Daniel, and Martin Merze|date=2007-08-18|title=Dean blasts Jamaica; Cayman Islands get ready|publisher=Miami Herald|accessdate=2007-08-18|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-32666923_ITM] Also, five fishermen drowned in the northern Santiago province after their boat capsized due to the effect of wind and torrential rain in the Tavera dam, near the town of Baitoa. The victims were fishing along with three others that managed to swim ashore, apparently ignoring warnings issued by civil defense authorities.cite web|author=STAFF|date=2007-08-22|title=Hurricane Dean caused 6 deaths in Dominican Republic |publisher=Dominican Today|accessdate=2007-08-22|url=http://www.dominicantoday.com/app/article.aspx?id=25179] Rough surf destroyed at least 5 houses along the southern coastcite 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] and damaged 316.

The outer fringes of Hurricane Dean swept over Haiticite web|author=Avila|year=2007|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?] bringing heavy squalls.cite web|author=Robert Schroeder|year=2007|title=Hurricane Dean batters Dominican Republic with rain|publisher=MarketWatch|accessdate=2007-08-18|date=2007-08-18| url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/hurricane-dean-batters-dominican-republic/story.aspx?guid=%7B11147B49-8412-4012-878E-5EF2447287AE%7D&dist=hplatest] On Gonâve Island, thousands of people lost power and some took shelter in schools and churches. The roof of the Hopital St. Michel in Jacmel, damaged before the storm, leaked significantly leading to water damage in the operating room. Another four were injured in a sailboat after disregarding warnings to stay in port.

Several hundred homes were destroyed due to the resulting landslides.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=2008-08-19|publisher=Sydney Morning Herald] In the departments of South-East, Nippes, Centre, and Artibonite, 5,154 people retreated to 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] Hurricanes typically pose significant hazards to potable water in Haiti, but Hurricane Dean produced only a modest 2.06 inches (52 mm) of rainfall. [cite web|author=ORE|publisher=Organization for the Rehabilitation of the Environment|url=http://oreworld.org/images/r_in_eng/2007%20in_eng.pdf|title=Rainfall in Camp Perrin, Haiti in 2007|date=2008-01-01|accessdate=2007-12-26|format=PDF] As such, the storm caused no major problems with water and sanitation,

Jamaica

Flooding was reported on the east of the island, and mudslides on the northeast coast.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] In Kingston, buildings collapsedcite web|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|url=http://www.flacso.org/hemisferio/al-eeuu/boletines/02/83/reg_03.pdf|format=PDF] and houses had their roofing torn off by the strong winds, which felled trees and lampposts. A shoot-out between police and looters occurred in the parish of Clarendon. 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] 3,127 houses were heavily damaged, 1,582 of which were left totally 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] Two-thirds of the homes in the southeastern parishes of Clarendon, St. Catherine, and Kingston/St. Andrew sustained significant damages. One man was killed in Clarendon by a collapsing roof, and a 14-year-old girl in Whitehorses, St. Thomas was killed by rock damage to her home.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] A third Jamaican was killed when he was struck by flying debris during the height of the storm.cite web|author=AP|date=2007-08-19|title=Cayman Islands imposes curfew as Hurricane Dean swipes Jamaica|accessdate=2008-09-02|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/08/20/news/CB-GEN-Hurricane-Dean.php]

Hurricane Dean affected 248 roads: 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 were blocked in St. Catherine, 8 were blocked in the Western Region (Saint James, Hanover, Westmoreland, and Trelawny), and 110 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] Furthermore, the road from Kingston to the airport was covered in sand, boulders, and downed power lines.

Agriculture damage was widespread. Across the country 40% of the sugarcane crop, 80–100% 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 to the storm.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] Insured damage in Jamaica was initially estimated at around US$1.5 billion,cite web|author=AIR Worldwide|date=2007-08-21|title=AIR: Dean Jamaica Losses will not Exceed $1.5 Billion|accessdate=2007-08-21|url=http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/international/2007/08/21/82880.htm] but post-storm analysis showed that it was closer to US$310 million.cite web|author=Staff Writer|publisher=Jamaica Gleaner|date=2008-07-04|accessdate=2008-07-24|title=ODPEM pleads for grants|url=http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20080704/lead/lead4.html] cite web|author=Gareth Manning|publisher=Jamaica Gleaner|date=2008-04-06|accessdate=2008-07-24|title=Hurricane insurance excludes rain damage|url=http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20080406/lead/lead2.html]

Other islands

Rain from Hurricane Dean closed several roads throughout Puerto Rico and there was heavy surf along the island's coast, but no deaths or injuries were reported.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] The hurricane's outer bands swept over Cuba between August 19 and August 21, bringing heavy rain and high seas, but sparing the island its damaging winds. In the Cayman Islands, rain flooded roads and there were high waves along the coast, but no deaths or serious injuries were reported. There were localized power outages and the water supply was shut off briefly, but the rest of the island's infrastructure was unaffected. Approximately 2000 people weathered the storm in temporary shelters.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]

Aftermath

Hurricane Dean's damage was moderate, considering its tremendous strength. It did not have severe or lasting effects on infrastructure, and the non-agricultural sectors of economies throughout the Greater Antilles recovered quickly.

Haiti

On August 23 the Haitian government sent food, sachets of potable water, mattresses and medicines to the town of Bainet in the South-East Department. On August 24 the Pan American Development Foundation sent food to all people living in temporary shelters and Venezuela delivered 11 tonnes of emergency food to the South-East Department in 500 family bags. Hurricane assistance was then blended into the country's standard humanitarian assistance programs and became indistinct from the country's continued poverty crisis.cite web|author=Maureen Taft-Morales and Demond Alexander Drummer|publisher=Congressional Research Service|date=2007-05-30|accessdate=2008-08-19|title=Haiti’s Development Needs and a Statistical Overview of Conditions of Poverty|url=http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL34029_20070530.pdf|format=PDF] cite web|author=Myriam Fehmiu|publisher= Centre for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI)|date=2007-08-20|accessdate=2008-08-19|title=Life Resumes in Haiti After Hurricane Dean|url=http://www.publication.ceci.ca/en/bulletin/omni/archive/2007/08/21/12857.aspx]

Jamaica

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] On August 22, three days after the hurricane struck the island, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) sent US$398,000 of emergency supplies to Jamaica's Norman Manley International Airport. These supplies included 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 effort.cite 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] 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]

On August 24 Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller announced that her government would provide JA$225 million in emergency assistance to the country's agriculture sector, especially the parishes of Portland, Clarendon, St. Thomas, Manchester, St. Catherine and St. Elizabeth. JA$100 million was immediately allocated to the purchase of fertilizers, JA$25 million to the Blue Mountain coffee farmers, and the Agriculture Ministry's JA$50 million fruit tree programme was accelerated.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 that the National Housing Trust had established a JA$500 million programme to provide loans at 6% per annum for emergency repairs. The National Housing Trust also made JA$200 million available to the Hurricane Relief Fund. The government provided tarpaulins, 10,000 of which were shipped in after the storm, free of charge to patch houses with damaged roofs.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 Jamaican general election scheduled for August 27 was postponed until September 3,cite web|author=Staff Writer|date=2007-08-22|title=Hurricane pushes into Mexico gulf |publisher=BBC News|accessdate=2007-08-22|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6956874.stm] at which point they went ahead as planned.cite web|author=Bill Johnson|publisher=Jamaica Gleaner|title=Pollster's diary: virtual motion picture of campaign 2007|date=2007-09-09|accessdate=2008-08-19|url=http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20070909/news/news2.html] Opponents accused Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller of unnecessarily extending the state of emergency (and related curfews) to maintain her political control as predictions at the time suggested that she and her party would be ousted by the opposition. [cite web|author=Staff Writer|publisher=Global Insight Inc.|date=2007-08-20|accessdate=2008-08-17|title=Hurricane Pursues Destructive Caribbean Route, Threatens Central American Coast|url=http://www.globalinsight.com/SDA/SDADetail10335.htm] She and her party ultimately did lose the election, although Dean's fortunately light damage was not thought to have been a major factor. [cite web|author=AFP/Reuters|publisher=ABC News|date=2007-09-04|accessdate=2008-08-17|title=Opposition party wins Jamaican election: officials|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/09/04/2023921.htm] [cite web|author=Debbie Ransome|publisher=BBC News|date=2007-08-31|accessdate=2008-08-17|title=Jamaica set for wide-open poll|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6956575.stm]

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 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 as the agricultural industry returned to normal.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]

ee also

* List of Atlantic hurricanes
* List of Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes
* 2007 Atlantic hurricane season
* Hurricane Dean

References

External links

*The NHC's [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/DEAN.shtml? archive on Hurricane Dean]