TEMA: Over $4m in damage to homes

Tobago Emergency Management Authority (TEMA) director Allan Stewart has put at over $4 million a preliminary estimate of damage caused to homes when Tropical Storm Karen swept through the island on September 22.

"These are the figures we have so far – upwards of $4 million worth in damage to residential properties and other operational costs," he told Newsday.

Stewart said TEMA, which has begun to tabulate losses, received a preliminary report from the Fire Services on Tuesday on incidents to which they had responded.

"They did eight to ten reports and the value is in the vicinity of over half a million dollars. And that is just damage to the homes that were the most critical," he said. "Those figures are just preliminary figures, but the total provided by them so far is valued up to about that. In some cases, one of the homes is valued at $300,000."

Stewart said damage to commercial properties is still being assessed.

"The process is ongoing."

Stewart said as of 4 pm on Tuesday, TEMA had stopped accepting reports for assistance.

"So, all in all we have received about 310 reports."

Stewart said the agency has been partnering with several organisations and companies to bring relief to Tobagonians who were seriously affected by the storm.