Overview Of The Dominican Red Cross Emergency And Relief Operations Following Hurricane Georges

Abstract

On September 22nd of 1998 the Dominican Republic was devastated by Hurricane Georges. Winds reaching more than 110 miles per hour, and an aftermath that left 283 dead, this natural phenomenon became one of the worst disasters in Dominican History. The Dominican Red Cross instituted an Incident Command System. A supplies management unit was incorporated into the logistics section, and a needs assessment unit was placed within the planning section. Liaison officers were deployed to work for each of the local and international agencies involved in the incident. Emergency operations included search and rescue and EMS, shelter location, damage assessment and supplies management. Health Issues encountered included direct damage to the health infrastructure, environmental health issues including, garbage disposal and drinking water control as well as epidemiological surveillance and vector control. Challenges faced were directly related to poor communication and leading agencies, agency specific challenges related to limited resources and direct institutional damage from the hurricane