BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — The Federation continues to assess the damage caused by Tropical Storm Ernesto, but preliminary findings from the National Emergency Management Agency’s (NEMA) Damage Assessment and Recovery Subcommittee have estimated it to be in the millions.
Tropical Storm Ernesto brought heavy rains and strong winds to St. Kitts and Nevis, uprooting trees and causing vehicular damage. The Subcommittee, led by Director of Public Works George Gilbert, has estimated the damage at EC$2.1 million so far.
“This figure is based on our preliminary report, and it could increase as assessments continue,” stated NEMA Head Abdias Samuel during an interview on WINN FM.
The storm left significant power outages across both islands. While Nevis quickly restored its power, the St. Kitts Electricity Company (SKELEC) faced challenges in restoring service after Tuesday’s storm.
Late this afternoon, SKELEC announced that power had been restored to all feeders following Tropical Storm Ernesto. However, the company faced public criticism for the length of time it took to complete the restoration, with some noting that Ernesto was only a tropical storm and not a hurricane.
Despite these challenges, there are important lessons to be learned from this storm as the Federation continues its preparations during the peak of the hurricane season.
Samuel expressed concern about the complacency displayed by some individuals and private sector entities.
"So we would have found ourselves in a situation whereby employees from those businesses that remained open had a very difficult time getting home. They found themselves trapped in the deteriorating weather condition. And as a result of that, it plays a challenge where we were asked to provide transportation to take these individuals home," he revealed.
He emphasized, “If we want to build a resilient and sustainable society, we need the cooperation of everyone.”
Samuel also highlighted concerns about people disregarding the stay-in-place order issued during the storm. He reiterated the importance of an “all-of-society approach” to ensure the Federation’s resilience against future threats.
