Hurricane Sandy impacted the island not from the traditional, south-easterly direction but from the south during what can be considered as the latter part of the North Atlantic Hurricane season. Rainfall analysis associated with the passage of Hurricane Sandy show that the three-day totals for rainfall was below their 30-year mean at most stations. Rainfall volumes at four stations exceeded the 30-year mean. The highest volume of rainfall was recorded in Portland but the station which exceeded the mean by the highest margin was Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) at 75 per cent above the 30-year mean for monthly rainfall recorded for this station.
Summary Cost
The total cost of direct and indirect damage associated with the passage of Hurricane Sandy was estimated at $9.7 billion (US $107.14 million2), of which $9.4 billion was damage and $0.3 billion loss3. Of the total damage, privately owned properties accounted for approximately seventy per cent ($6.6 billion), while publicly owned properties accounted for $3.1 billion. Disaggregated by sector, the Social sector accounted for the largest portion of the damage (48.2 per cent). This was followed by damage incurred by the Infrastructure Sector (27.5 per cent); the Productive Sector (17.2 per cent); and Emergency Operations (7.0 per cent).
The estimated $9.7 billion in total cost represents 0.8 per cent of 2011 current GDP. This shock combined with the adverse developments in the international and global environments, initiated a downward revision of 0.4 percentage point in GDP estimates, resulting in a revised GDP change of -0.1 per cent for FY2012/13.
Infrastructure
Unlike previous years, the country’s physical infrastructure did not bear the brunt of the damage caused by the extreme weather event. Damage and losses to the country’s infrastructure – electricity, water and sanitation, transport and communication was estimated at $2.7 billion.
Damage to road infrastructure was worst in the parishes of St. Thomas, Portland, St. Mary and St. Ann fared the worse. Damage was due to a combination of factors, including blockage caused by landslides, fallen trees, light poles and power lines; blocked drains and culverts, flooded rivers and storm surges. The preliminary estimates of the total cost to reopen blocked roads amounted to $710.16 million. The bulk of this amount ($695.66 million) represents the estimated cost to clear blocked roads, effect temporary road repairs and to clean critical drains.
Preliminary estimates indicate that the electricity sub-industry sustained damage of some $644.0 million, which includes direct costs (third party cost, material/equipment and overtime). A total of 460 893 customers (approximately 70 per cent) of the customer base experienced interruptions in their electricity supply during and after the passage of the storm. Service was restored to 90 per cent of the customer population within 4 days after the storm.
The passage of Hurricane Sandy affected a number of the National Water Commission (NWC)’s water supply systems, resulting in disruption in regular water supply to approximately 248,612 customers. At October 30, the NWC was able to restore water supply to 80 per cent of its customers. Preliminary investigations indicated that the NWC will have to expend over $215 million to restore its water supply systems and commercial office to a fully operational level. Of the estimated total, $100 million is directly related to the replacing of a dislocated pipeline and bridge at the flood prone Yallahs in St. Thomas.
Transportation
There was no physical damage to the Jamaica Urban Transit Corporation (JUTC’s) facilities, but the company sustained losses in revenue due to the closure of schools and other places during the hurricane. The average revenue for the week prior to Hurricane Sandy was approximately $64.7 million compared with $39.8 million during the week of the hurricane.
Agriculture
Preliminary figures from the Ministry of Agriculture indicated that total damage and loss to the agriculture sector was estimated at $1.452 billion. Banana farmers in St. Mary, Portland and St. Thomas experienced damage of 93, 96 and 100 per cent respectively. Damage to cash crops (banana/plantain, roots and tubers, vegetables, condiments) and fruits was estimated at $1.25B covering 37 000 farmers on 2 815 hectares of land. The value of livestock (poultry, pigs, goats, cattle, rabbits, bee colonies, sheep) damage across the parishes is $95M covering 3 600 farmers. In addition, the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE) in Portland sustained damage to crops and infrastructure amounting to approximately $32.97 million.
Tourism
The hurricane did not adversely impact the tourism sector, however, Montego Bay, Falmouth and Ocho Rios, all lost ship calls from the Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise lines, because they changed their itineraries as a result of the hurricane. More than 8,000 passengers were scheduled to dock at the three piers.
Education
Total damage to educational institutions is estimated at $170 million. The majority of the institutions damaged were located in the north-eastern, eastern, and south-eastern parishes. These included St. Mary, Portland, St. Thomas, Kingston and St. Andrew, and St. Catherine. As a result, 3 school days were lost and over 215 000 children and over 11 000 teachers were affected.
Health
Damage to the health sector is estimated at $180. 15 million, while losses amounted to $161 50 million, for a total of $341 65 million. The Ministry of Health reported that one person died as a result of the hurricane, an elderly man of Bedward Gardens, St. Andrew who was crushed when a boulder fell on his house. In addition, a total of 291 injuries were reported at several hospitals, one Children’s Home, and other primary care facilities across the island.
Affected Population
Approximately 25.2 per cent of the total population or some 681,018 persons from 123 communities were directly and indirectly affected by the natural disaster. Some 17 198 households applied to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) for emergency relief assistance due to damage to household items and properties as a result of the hurricane. The parishes of St. Mary and Portland accounted for 62.27 per cent (10 709) of the total number of households affected. Some 37 000 cash crop farmers, across 13 parishes experienced losses of up to $1.25 billion, while 3 600 livestock farmers suffered losses of up to $95 million.
A total of 17 198 households sustained damage to houses and household items. Some 807 houses were totally destroyed, while others experienced minor to severe damages (10 307 and 5 232 respectively). The parishes of St. Mary and Portland accounted for 62.27 per cent (10 709) of the total number of households affected.
Environment
Damage sustained as a result of the hurricane was primarily concentrated in the eastern parishes of Portland, St Mary and St Thomas. Wind, storm surges and heavy rains caused the majority of the damage, affecting both coastal and terrestrial ecosystems. Storm surges were primarily responsible for the beach erosion; damage to ecosystems; and damage to select coastal infrastructure. Forests were also impacted by the onslaught of Hurricane Sandy, particularly as some areas were affected by rains and winds associated with Tropical Storm Isaac 3 weeks prior. Younger plantations (trees of 2-5 ft.) experienced the brunt of the impact as wind gusts resulted in trees being toppled. Native tree species fared well and did not undergo any significant/major damage. In St Mary, an estimated 60 per cent of sites observed had between 25-50 per cent crown damage, while an estimated 20 per cent of the sites showed severe (greater than 51 per cent) crown damage. A similar situation was experienced in Portland, particularly in such areas as Innes Bay, Manchioneal, Canewood to Hope Bay and St Margarets Bay.
Landslides occurred in several areas, hampering efforts to fully assess forests and causing other forms of damage. Access routes to some important forest areas were blocked.
Rivers in many areas were in spate due to the rains. On October 24, 2012, gauge readings from the Hope River station near Gordon Town showed that the river rose to 2.58m during event compared with 0.88m prior. The turbidity and high debris associated with landslides and the soil erosion further upstream forced the National Water Commission (NWC) to close its intake in the river. The debris and heavy flow also resulted in the destruction of a bridge in Kintyre, St Andrew.
Source: https://goo.gl/mvsvML