DOMINICA HURRICANE UPDATE – PAIX BOUCHE (August 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. 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 WORK 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 serve as an evacuation shelter for the surrounding communities. CURRENT ACTIVITIES July has been a month of significant progress as we enter into our final phase of this project. The stage, the canteen, the WASH facilities and the masonry work on the Primary School have all been completed, and there is a brand new, hurricane resilient roof in place. Internal and external plastering is well underway and the screed flooring has begun to be poured; a huge team effort from staff, local workers and volunteers. Volunteer work in the Pre School has been focused on rebar bending, form-work building and cement mixing, whilst skilled masons have laid the blocks and welders have fixed the rebar into place. The walls are now complete and the roof trusses have been installed..