Several communities declared ‘special disaster areas’

Residents of Coulibistrie receive supplies after Erika. The community was named a special disaster area. Photo by Chad Ambo
Residents of Coulibistrie receive supplies after Erika. The community was named a special disaster area. Photo by Chad Ambo

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has declared several areas in Dominica as ‘special disaster areas’ following the passage of Tropical Storm Erika.

He made the declaration on Saturday evening.

The areas are Paradise Valley in Bath Estate, Petite Soufriere, Good Hope, Dubique, Petite Savanne, Pichelin, Coulibistrie, Campbell and San Sauveur.

He said the declaration was made after “broad consultation” and was necessary due to the loss of life, the destruction of property and the need for “focused response” in these areas.

Skerrit also stated that continued focus will also be on the Douglas Charles Airport and Petite Savanne.

“Petite Savanne continues to be a concern for us,” he said.

Twenty people have been confirmed dead since the passage of Erika and several communities around Dominica remain cut off from the rest of the island.

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46 Comments

  1. PREACHERS KID
    August 31, 2015

    Special thanks for Q95 who assisted me in locating my family, I think that God is still good and the government should call on the US to assist. All I am seeing is PM . He should get briefing from his heads of the disaster management team but he is in the front line giving the impression that he is in charge. I think it looks bad . it was nice of him to visit the areas but he should be in his office talking to world leaders on assisting the Dominican people.

    • mags
      September 2, 2015

      Isn’t he in charge? Don’t you watch the news? Can’t you see all what’s being done. Please, come on. !!!!!!!!!!!!

  2. Ethelca Brand
    August 31, 2015

    We are Saddened by this disaster that will set our country back a number of years, we have been there before and got through it, We can do it again with time and patience and with everyone united. Our sadness too is for the many lives lost, our sympathy and prayers goes out to the families and for Dominica.

  3. uk resident
    August 31, 2015

    in a disaster should a country have a choice as to what outside help come to its rescue it is reported on all social media skerrit has not ask for help from the American the question is WHY only north Korea would behave like that.

  4. Margaret brumant
    August 31, 2015

    my prayers and thoughts are with the people of DA,especially the inhabitants of Coulibstrie in their hour of need . May the good Lord bring solace to all.

  5. Badeea
    August 31, 2015

    I pray to God to help all the people in Dominica

  6. JAHIA
    August 30, 2015

    You too people are too damn stupid and ungrateful, count your blessings and stop complaining. Positive brings positive

  7. Very Important
    August 30, 2015

    Are the Government, banks, credit unions, other lending institutions, in collaboration with the ECCB, grant persons with mortgages, and other credit facilities, a grace period on repayments for a few months? Mostly everyone has to recover, with houses, vehicles, clothing, food, school issues etc. Despite external assistance, residents in Dominica will need this time to pull together before they can repay anything. Will the Ministry of Finance inform of the possibility?

  8. Concerned
    August 30, 2015

    Who or which authority is responsible for Loubiere and environs? Who is conducting a needs assessment? It appears that this community is being ignored.

  9. Tourism Specialist
    August 30, 2015

    playing politics…that is funny

  10. grege cuffy
    August 30, 2015

    May god Be with all my people in dominica i love You ? Jah love we all.

  11. Fatz
    August 30, 2015

    Why all the talk of aid just rebuild de damn road and clear debris simple to much beggy beggy ting agwarn so much strong yout in DA put them to work and give dem purpose tek pride in yourselves we are not invalids look at de stupid road de chinese build might as well we did it ourselves because de road is in de sea right now with their 6 inches of concrete below de tarmac a joke ting dat

  12. TRES TRESTE
    August 30, 2015

    I AM ST LUCIAN , WE HAVE HAD OUR FAIR SHARE OF DISASTERS BUT NEVER HAVE I SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS…MY HEART AND LOVE GOES TO ALL DOMINICANS AND WE , MY FAMILY AND OTHER ST LUCIANS WILL BE HELPING ….May the disaster unite all Dominicans so that politics will play no part in reconstruction

  13. August 30, 2015

    Have people stranded at Jungle Bay resort been rescued??

  14. kisses
    August 30, 2015

    No water in tye city for 4 days!!!! That to me is a crisis

    • Heroines
      August 31, 2015

      Yes that is a crisis while you have people missing who are buried under soil. Ridiculous Dominicans. We always want what we want and want it now. We need to drop that selfish way and become a bit more selfless in this country.

  15. kisses
    August 30, 2015

    So y is the entire country not declared a state of emergency??? On the ground it certainly feels that way and it looks that way as well… skerrit has too much pride i guess?

    • kisses
      August 30, 2015

      Still no water in roseau…. how are people suppose to clean the city…. its mud mud everywhere!!! 4 days without pipe water is significant!!

      • Heroines
        August 31, 2015

        Who give a… About mud when people are still stranded & possibly dying? Go buy some drinking water. Two days without a prober shower won’t kill you. In fact, go bathe in the Roseau river. Selfish much?

  16. curlita walters
    August 30, 2015

    hope every thing will get alright soon

  17. Looking in
    August 30, 2015

    …or National disaster….or whatever it’s called

  18. Looking in
    August 30, 2015

    What crap is this?
    The whole island should be declared a state of emergency and not just certain areas.
    Now is the time for us all to pull together and start rebuilding….some areas may need more help than others, but is all of us.
    God bless Dominica and Dominicans all over the world.

  19. timtim
    August 30, 2015

    Why not a national disaster for the whole of Dominica? Did anybody ask? Was an explanation given?

  20. nina corriette
    August 30, 2015

    let us all pray

  21. forreal
    August 30, 2015

    godspeed my people work together and keep the faith

  22. Doc. Love
    August 30, 2015

    I am very concerned, the manner Skeritt is handling that disaster in Dominica. He has made some moves in trying to get the opposition involved but that isn’t enough. We have not heard anything concerning the United States of America. We have not heard the voice of Ambassador Vince Henderson and the United Nations. After the disaster in Haiti it took the Americans hours to be in Haiti in order to assist. I hope Skeritt is not playing politics with the lives of Dominicans. For instance, China and Venezuela against America.

    • Sensitivity to Families seeking information!
      August 30, 2015

      In fairness to all reading the expressed frustrations of those who visit these sites seeking info, there needs to be caution & sensitivity in what is being written. I’m a concerned outsider looking in+constantly following all media outlets. DBS Radio had Mr. Vince Henderson interviewed today for approximately 30 minutes. He thoroughly outlined what is being done in the U.S. at this very moment:
      1. Several “drop off” locations have been made available to all within the US who are seeking to assist with the efforts
      2. A website has been established+highlights those areas on http://www.dominicarelief.com
      3. Partnering of Shipping Agents
      4. He specifically expounded on what he has already done by contacting the United Nations+that ALL members will be asked to assist in the recovery efforts for DA.
      This is not a matter of which countries are assisting, but one of getting the much needed aid to those areas which have experienced major loss of life and infrastructure. Criticizing is…

    • 4-cars
      September 1, 2015

      Was just wondering. Like Jim Jones in Guyana? Help is available from America, but the big head man is a communist. He rather the people suffer than ask America to help. What a boy eh!

  23. August 30, 2015

    God help the people of Dominica

  24. Concern dominican
    August 30, 2015

    Declaring a few areas in the country as devasated areas mean nothing…please I beg you officials..Why hasn’t dominica been declared a state of emergency and the officials reach out to the more developed countries for immediate help in the search and rescue,aid, rebuilding and to help the country to get back to normalcy and to get the economy back on its feet.i am here in Canada waiting to hear such plea from the authorities..I am waiting for the airport to re open so I can head to dominica to help rebuild in my capacity which is hydro power reconstruction.i have spoken to a few of my co workers who are willing to head down there to help rebuild.

  25. Me
    August 30, 2015

    Hate to think what would have happened if they had gone ahead with the plans to quarry above Co0libistrie some years ago! That is a very vulnerable place. Most of the village is in the flood plain of that river. Let’s put our hand together and assist them, and all the other places mentioned.

  26. Met
    August 30, 2015

    Why Checkhall is not included in this list. Checkhall , the area above Warehouse is VERY Very BAD. Does the area has a Palrep?

    • stupes
      August 30, 2015

      this seem to be funny.. isn’t blackmore the parl rep?

  27. sandie njie
    August 30, 2015

    Love and blessings to all the beautiful people of Dominica,we are thinking of you .
    Special thoughts to our family in Soufrieie and Scotts Head xx
    Oliver and Sandie

  28. Dominican girl in PA
    August 30, 2015

    I will keep on praying for my Island and my People.
    #PrayersForDominica

  29. G.LEE
    August 30, 2015

    Its saddening and heartbraking that such a beautiful Island had to pass an Storm who created such a disaster. Is a hard lesson for all of us who live in the Caribbean, that to follow the strict instructions of our Governmental Agencies to go to the refugees if we feel that our area is floodable.

    My prayers are within your beautiful Island, Dominica!.

  30. Apostle Mark (Colihaut Villager)
    August 30, 2015

    EEh Las, Camem they should have declared Colihaut as a special disaster area as well with the scale of devastation and destruction of property there. Is it that the authorities are not aware of the extent of the damage there?

  31. STEPHEN PAUL DELSOL
    August 30, 2015

    PRIORITIZE CHILDREN AND SENIORS FOR IMMEDIATE RELIEF!

    In the SPECIAL DISASTER AREAS we must provide immediate relief to the MOST VULNERABLE MEMBERS and REMOVE them to SECURE AREAS. We must provide them with a home, food, clothing and trauma counseling.

    1) Pregnant mothers and those with babies must be moved into safe areas and adequate housing as quickly as possible.

    2) Children of school age must be moved to areas where they can continue their education when school reopens.

    3) Seniors required immediate attention and comfort.

    We must EXECUTE these MOVEMENTS of the MOST VULNERABLE as quickly and smoothly as possible.

  32. Sara Kander
    August 30, 2015

    How is the status up in the north? Portsmouth, savanne Paille?
    my mother lives There and I live in Sweden and I can not find any information.
    I didnt manage to get in touch with her yet…of course I am worried.

    • Sensitivity to Families seeking information!
      August 30, 2015

      Hi Sara,

      Portsmouth suffered little damage. I managed to get through to news outlets and I believe they are assisting in their own manner by reading the notes sent privately, and for that I am MOST grateful.
      I managed to see dominicanewsonline.com post a photo of my mother along with her friend and husband as well as a few others. The area of Portsmouth appears to be spared, but cut off from the outside world because telephone communication has been interrupted as a result of the storm’s damage to areas surrounding it.
      Please visit the FB page of this news medium until you find an area in the posted newsfeeds during August 29, 2015 that has as its header PORTSMOUTH. A young man apparently travelled by boat and captured what was occurring. I have not seen anything regarding Savanne Paille.
      I hope this information serves as useful to you. I understand the anxiety you may be experiencing at this moment. What is your mother’s name? Perhaps someone will recognize her name if posted!

  33. The Truth
    August 30, 2015

    PM get off your high horse and call the US STATE DEPARTMENT to assist the people of Dominica who needs food, medical care and housing….Stop making everything about you and not the people of Dominica…Don’t forget the world eyes in on Dominica….

  34. August 30, 2015

    It’s just unfortunate there will be no federal aid. And so it breaks my heart when such disasters occur in the U.S how much these people go on complaining, complaining, for weeks, months and even years of not getting enough assistance from the authorities. Rather than giving GOD thanks and praise that they’re alive and everything else will fall in place at the right time.

  35. Elizabeth
    August 30, 2015

    Condolences to those who have lost loved ones. From the Dontfraid and Bethel families. Our hearts and prayers go out to you all in Dominica.

  36. La Terre
    August 29, 2015

    More division in the country.

  37. Jacqueline L'homme Wilson
    August 29, 2015

    I would like to thank the police department in Roseau for helping me find my Brother Serge L’homme. Thanks to my friend, Police Officer James, and the radio station WICEQ95FM my brother is safe in Kalinago area and the rest of my family members in other locations.
    May the Lord Bless Dominica! The Lord is holding Domnica in its hands.

  38. Marlene Stevenson
    August 29, 2015

    Did Rosalie get hit bad and is everyone around Rosalie alright. I use to live in Rosalie

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