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Hurricane Maria

Hurricane Maria struck Dominica on 19 September 2017.

Maria was a stage 5 hurricane, on a scale of 5. The eye of the hurricane entered the island on its south-eastern Atlantic side and traversed the whole territory towards the north-west, where it continued its devastating course across the Caribbean.

Winds reached speeds of 260 km/h and waves reached the height of 25 meters, destroying all coastline buildings. The impact of a single such wave crest hitting the shore is 1 tonne per square centimeter.

Torrential rains forced rivers out of their beds in an sudden and unprecedented way, causing the destruction of the main island’s bridges.

Roads and bridges destroyed

Water, electricity and telecommunications networks destroyed

95% of the fishing fleet and gear destroyed or vanished

All windows and glass doors shattered

Solid buildings have been damaged and flooded

Underwater fauna and flora heavily impacted (corals, fish, etc.)

Roof damage: 95% of Scott’s Head roofs are gone; across Dominica, all private housings and public buildings are damaged, including hospitals, schools, churches and community halls

Light “sheet-metal” buildings blown away, leaving the island’s working-class community homeless

Natural environment heavily impacted (forests everywhere look as though they’ve suffered fire damage)