The West Coast of Dominica received a severe battering from Hurricane Omar from about midnight October 15, 2008. A preliminary report from the Office of Disaster Management indicated that there was wide spread infrastructural damage to roads, sea defenses, ports and utilities from sea swells and several families have been affected. About 30 families or approximately 125 persons from the West Coast were made homeless and had to be accommodated by friends and families. The Community of Scotts Head in the south, with a population of 450, was cut off from the rest of the country for a few days since the coastal road to that community was extensively damaged. That community was without electricity, water and landline telephones. Access to several other communities along the west coast was also difficult.
Due to heavy lightning activities, there were widespread power outages. Several areas around the island were without electricity and landline phones. During the day cell phone service was intermittent. The main port was damaged, and the Ferry Terminal was extensively damaged. The Cruise ship ports were slightly damaged. All barge access for hauling sand and stones were totally destroyed. The west side of the Canefield Airport was slightly damaged.
The island’s fishing industry was also adversely affected. Engines, fishing equipment and boat houses in 13 communities along the west coast were also damaged, and more than 500 fishermen were affected. Seven 'sizeable' boats ran aground in the second town of Portsmouth and two in the villages of Bioche/Dublanc. Fishermen from the entire West Coast lost boats, boat houses, engines and fishing gear. The severe weather resulted in Government's decision to shut down the country for 24 hours on Thursday October 16, 2008.The Airport on the West Coast and Shipping was suspended, but the main Airport and essential services were kept operational.
The Board of Directors of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) lent Dominica US$9.16 million to assist in financing the rehabilitation of sea defences and associated road work destroyed by Hurricane Omar.
Source: https://goo.gl/Kkd4Bj, https://goo.gl/hKisRS