DOMINICA HURRICANE UPDATE – PAIX BOUCHE (JULY 2018)
DISASTER PROFILE Regarded as the worst natural disaster on record in Dominica, Hurricane Maria made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane on September 18, 2017 with winds over 160 mph. The raging storms killed 31 people, (37 are still missing). Hurricane Maria left Dominica completely devastated, damaging tens of thousands of buildings, all power, water and telecoms, and obliterating 100% of agriculture – a major source of income. Damages and losses are estimated at USD $1.3m, or 224% of Dominica’s GDP. OUR RESPONSE All Hands and Hearts – Smart Response is rebuilding Paix Bouche Primary School and Pre-school in St. Andrew Province. At the center of our work are Build Back Better techniques to make the school resistant against future hurricanes and earthquakes. Working closely with the Ministry of Education, the school and the local community, this essential work will create a much safer, more appropriate learning environment and provide a secure hurricane shelter for the surrounding communities. CURRENT ACTIVITIES June has been a month of masonry work to complete the new reinforced walls, and wrapping the existing columns to add an outer reinforcement jacket, for extra strength. Volunteer work has been focused on rebar bending, form-work building and cement mixing, whilst skilled masons have laid the blocks and welders work to fix the rebar in place. The hardwood timbers for the roof trusses have been assembled, whilst work on the toilet block is almost complete, where old, damaged fittings, tiles and roofing have been removed to make way for new materials and fixtures. Demolition of the damaged Pre-school has taken place and volunteers have been helping to mark up and lay the foundations.