Above: recovery work in Turks and Caicos (Photo: OPTCI)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The northern Caribbean region is beginning recovery efforts in the wake of Tropical Storm Cristobal.

The storm caused damage in several parts of the region, including the Turks and Caicos, Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and the deaths of at least five people across the Caribbean.

The Turks and Caicos Islands has begun recovery efforts following significant damage from flooding, after 12 inches of rain fell on the British Overseas Territory from Aug. 23 to Aug. 24, with flood water several feet deep in some places.

The TCI Government Executive Policy Committee met Monday to discuss the recovery plan, looking to determine how much damage was caused by the storm and to determine the allocation of resources to assist in recovery efforts.

“The images that I have seen, and the brief received from our colleagues who flew over the islands in a US Coast Guard aircraft today, have left us in no doubt of the extensive damage to people’s property and possessions,” Governor Peter Beckingham said.

Flights have resumed at Providenciales International Airport as of 8:30 AM Tuesday morning, however.

All domestic and international carriers have resumed service to the Turks and Caicos Islands, following a two-day interruption of service due to the storm.

“Our immediate action items remain further assessing the extent of the damage inflicted by Tropical Storm Cristobal especially in the islands of Middle & North Caicos,” said TCI Premier Dr Rufus Ewing. “We are sending specialist staff to help those in greatest need, and to better assess the situation.”

In the Dominican Republic, almost 4,000 people were evacuated due to the storm.

In Haiti, which has been hit particularly hard by several storms in the region in recent years, at least two people were killed and dozens more injured due to flooding and road accidents.

There is no clear estimate of the cost of the damage so far.