TEMA, Defence Force help roof repairs after Hurricane Beryl

THE Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) and Defence Force are collaborating to help fix roofs damaged during the passage the category-four Hurricane Beryl, which battered Barbados, Carriacou and other islands in the Windwards on July 1.

Chief Secretary Farley Augustine announced the initiative at a press conference on July 1.

On the Tobago Updates morning show on July 2, TEMA Director Allan Stewart said there have been 150 reports to the agency with the majority of the damages being to roofs on the eastern end of the island.

He said, “We are moving into the fields with materials to fix roofs. So I just want to give the assurance to the public out there, those of you who are being affected, your roofs have been damaged, that assistance is coming your way."

In a Facebook post on July 2, TEMA said a damage-and-needs-analysis team comprising TEMA, the Division of Infrastructure, Quarries and Urban Development, the Defense Force (TTDF), and the Division of Settlements, Public Utilities and Rural Development, met on July 2 to strategise recovery efforts. This team will conduct a thorough assessment to determine the full extent of damage as a result of Hurricane Beryl and prioritise restoration needs.

Stewart urged affected home-owners to give TEMA time to treat with the various issues.

"Exercise some patience, we cannot do everyone at the same time and therefore from where we sit at the disaster office, what we do, we co-ordinate things.”

Asked about the funding and budget to complete these roof repairs, Stewart told Newsday: “There is always money; there is not a problem of money.

"There are mechanisms that are established by the disaster management mechanism to deal with that. That is why you have categories of response; if you don’t have the money then it comes from the central government. If central government doesn’t have, then it comes from other donors on the outside – it comes through CCIF (Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility), those are systems that exist.”

The reports received to date; he said, spreads across over 50 communities.

“In some ways, we can say it was widespread and that was expected based on size of the system. The intensity was one that we prepared for the worst – I think that was the mantra of the chief secretary, that we ought to prepare for the worst."

He said it was a relief that the reports received were not catastrophic.

“We want to thank God that there were no casualties or no deaths, and we are very grateful for that. We are very grateful that there were no reports of any destructions of structures; critical or significant damages to infrastructure; damages to the airport.”

He said it is important for Tobago to know “what really missed us.”

“God has been good to us and for persons like myself, it strengthened my faith in that there is a God.”