Letter from Colleagues in Gros Morne on the Damage From Hurricane Hanna

What is being said here in Gros Morne (and in Gonaives 16 miles south of us) is that Hanna hit us harder than Jeanne in 2004. If Hurricane Ike passes on Sunday without dumping any more rain and wind on us, it will be a miracle! Reports here are only partially in on Hanna’s damage because of swollen rivers and washed out roads.

Riviere Mancelle on the north side of town washed away nine more homes. The river is now very close to Samuel’s mother’s house, upstream from where the gabion was built in 2001. Flood water invaded the Jean Marie Vincent Formation Center in Grepin, but the nursery was spared. As in 2004 some families have taken refuge there as well as in the nearby Salvation Army. Many homes, especially those with straw roofs and dirt floor have been damaged throughout all eight communal sections and a number in our town itself.

Tiden’s place by the beach was hit by Trois Rivieres, which washed away most of his trees-some fifteen to twenty feet tall. The water came up to the large mango tree and exposed its roots and took a car. Trois Riviere was up to, or almost up to, the large, German-built, bridge you cross as you enter Gros Morne from the south, so those who have been here can imagine the height and how the river widened and the force of the water. Gardens on both sides were washed away. The courtyard of Jesus-Mary School in Fon Ibo was under water and the tree at the entrance was toppled but mercifully did not hit anyone or the school. Some streets in town, like Rue de la Paix, are so gutted out that cars can’t pass.

The road to Veney and Deye Mon was washed out after heavy rains on July 18 and now its worse. The water captage in Deye Mon, which supplies water to hundreds of families, was damaged by the July 18th rains and now is in worse shape too. The three water captages in Faguet, repaired after Jeanne, have been destroyed. I have yet to hear from Ravin-aux-Lians if their well held up.

On a positive note the well in Perou is working and the road to Bigue has held up. Edmound told me you can drive to the community school and with four-wheel drive continue to the tree nursery. The community is going to work on the road. The school was not damaged and the cistern is almost full. However a number of homes with straw roofs were damaged. The newly constructed terraces in Corail held up, I am told. I have recent pictures of the work recently done so I will be able to compare. Mud ran through some of the homes in Claudine’s village built by Food For Peace, but it would have been much worse if people had not build dry walls and control ditches up the hill behind the houses.

In town the National School was opened to people who had no place to live. Since we had just received some food from Food for the Poor, we were able to help with food for those at the National School as well as the families at Grepin.

Thousand of homes are damaged and thousands of livestock, cows and goats and pigs, were washed away. Out in the mountains there are places were whole houses and the land were washed away but we don’t have final figures. I have heard of five deaths, not counting those who died when a transport truck carrying merchants with onions, carrots, etc. overturned at the bottom of Mon Lacret on Monday.

Many people in Gros Morne have family in Gonaives where Hanna sent floodwaters three meters high (ten feet) crashing through the city. As of today many people are living on roofs or second floors but food has run out. We head there are four hundred people in the Bishop’s residence.

Thank you for all your prayers and that you will continue to pray especially that Ike leaves us alone. Peace, Pat Dillon and Jackie Picard

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