Hurricane Lenny 1999

This very unusual eastward-tracking and late-season storm developed in the Caribbean sea in mid-November reaching a Category 4 by November 17-19 when it stalled within the Leeward Islands in the Anguilla-St.Marteen area. It caused high seas and strom damage on western coastal areas of Dominica that are commonly less vulnerable, being on the leeward side of the island. As it was not expected to cause high winds in the Windward Islands, there was no hurricane warning in Dominica. Consequently, Hurricane Lenny caught many unaware with minimal opportunities to protect vulnerable property, such as fishing boats and equipment and hotels exposed to the West. There were, however, high sea alerts on the Internet and at least one hotel owner took mitifation action by moving vessels to the lee of St.Lucia. The hurricane caused considerable structural and equipment damage on the Western side of the island . Dominica suffered from wave action. Along its West Coast, the coastal highway was severely eroded, and seawall and sea defense systems strained. Roseau, the capital, was cut off for a few days from its petroleum storage facilities as well as the northern section of the country including its two airports. The most trafficked road in Dominica (Pottersville to Rockway) was closed until it could be repaired. For Dominica, the damage was equal to 8.8 percent of GDP.
The Ministry of Communications, Works and Housing damage assessment focused on roads and associated infrastructure on the West Coast and associated service infrastructure. Much of the damage was to previously inadequately protected or unprotected structures. Most badly affected were road connections from Soufriere to Scott’s Head, which were interrupted, long with power lines and telecommunications. The MCHW assessed cost of repair restoration to roads and sea defense works was EC $3.4 m and building damage EC$7.8M. In addition, the MCWH estimated the cost of permanent works to protect road infrastructure as EC $109.6m.
Other reported direct damage was as follows, WINCROP payout of EC$ 1.1 million implies total producer losses in the 1999-2000 season of around EC $5.5m. The Ministry of Agriculture estimated total losses in the rest of the crop sector as EC3.9m, including EC$1.8m for plantains and EC$ 0.9m for “ground provisions” or root crops.

Other assessments of direct losses or costs included:

DOWASCO (water and sewage) EC $0.34 m
DOMLEC (electricity) EC $0.15m
Port Authority EC $1.3m
Fisheries
Roseau Complex EC $3.4m
Other private sites and equipment EC $1.4m

Hoteliers EC $0.67m
Residential Property EC $2.73m

Source: https://goo.gl/Fb7DVm

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1999

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