4 Grenada 2004 Photo by Frankie Michael By Franklyn Michael H urricane Ivan struck Grenada on September 7th, 2004, and it was the strongest hurricane for a decade at that time. Ivan had winds sometimes in excess of 130 miles per hour and was classified as a strong Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. It later became a Category 5 system in other parts of the Caribbean. Ivan created such destruction that the people of Grenada were left in a state of despair and desperation, with a death toll of 37 people. It seemed that no Grenadian escaped the effects of Ivan. Approximately 90 per cent of the houses were damaged or destroyed and, according to government reports at that time, 274 locations functioned as shelters in the beginning. It was estimated that about 6,000 Grenadians took refuge in those locations. All utilities including telephone service were severely damaged and disrupted. The estimated financial impact was about US$900 million. That figure was more than twice the country's GDP in 2004. The hurricane damaged the country extensively, with 90 per cent or approximately 27,000 houses severely damaged or destroyed. It was estimated that 30 per cent or approximately 10,000 units would have needed complete rebuilding. Seventy per cent or approximately 22,000 houses required major repairs. The four parishes most severely affected by the hurricane were: St. George, St. David, St. Andrew and St. Patrick at that time, held 80 per cent of Grenada’s population. It was also believed that in 2004, women headed almost 50 per cent of households. People older than 65 years of age accounted for 16 per cent of the population in 2004. The hurricane had a major negative impact on household incomes and savings. Unemployment inevitably rose in the tourism and agriculture sectors (the main economic activities then) in particular because of the nature of the impact of the hurricane. The prospects for return to work in the short-term in those sectors was limited. CDEMA responded to Grenada immediately along with many of its regional and international partners as well as Caribbean Governments that responded directly to Grenada’s needs. The list of such partners • Continues on next page
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