By Desiree Kissoon
He knows speed, force and power and had some victims of his own, but when Tropical Storm Erika slammed into the small island in the Caribbean where he was born, former West Indies fast bowler Adam Sanford was bowled over by the devastation of lives and infrastructure in Dominica.
Former Windies paceman Adam Sanford. Photo by Shem Rodney
Tropical Storm Erika came like a thief in the night, arriving without warning in the early hours of August 27, as islanders slept.
The storm dumped 13 inches of rain in 12 hours, it turned mountainsides to mush causing catastrophic landslides, and rivers into rushing overflowing torrents, claiming 34 lives and devouring 271 homes across the island.
However, after the initial shock of the catastrophe wore off, Sanford and his wife Jo, decided to take a pro- active role and do something to help.
Their efforts includes collecting food, clothing, and other articles for the many left homeless and with nothing to eat or wear. The couple also welcome cash donation to assist in rebuilding homes that were destroyed.
Speaking with the Caribbean Sun Times, Jo Sanford disclosed that an entire village was destroyed by the storm.
She infrastructure on the island was severely damaged as well as its airports.
According to Adam Sanford, Dominicans wishing to leave the island had to travel from several different ports to do so.
The small island depends heavily on tourism.
And the Dominica Tourism Board said that the country has begun to rebuild after the devastation.
The tourism board in a statement said that assessments to the country’s infrastructure, including roads, bridges, sites, and attractions, are underway.
Douglas-Charles Airport continues its cleanup towards reopening, while Canefield Airport, the ferry terminal, and both cruise ports – Roseau Cruise Ship Berth and the Woodbridge Bay Port – were unaffected by the storm.
Douglas-Charles has welcomed several flights by LIAT planes in recent days, said the tourism authority.
Dominica’s Canefield Airport is currently operational for helicopter and small aircrafts, with daily WINAIR flights from St. Maarten, daily Caribbean Helicopters service to and from Antigua, and Hummingbird Air charts from St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and St. Croix.
LIAT and Seaborne Airlines have also increased flights into Guadeloupe in an effort to facilitate travel to and from Dominica.
Meanwhile, here in New York, the Sanfords are aiming to send 10 barrels of foodstuff, clothing, shoes and toiletries.
“After crying and feeling a sense of despair, Adam and I decided we are going to do something to help. This is our small way of dealing with the tragedy,” said Jo Sanford.
The couple recalled the fear and anxiety of not be able to get in touch with family members following the storm.
“That was a tough time not knowing if they are okay or not. Then after we knew they were safe, we still couldn’t communicate with them,” Jo recalled.
The storm is reported to have set the country back two decades.
Anyone wishing to donate or make a contribution to the Sanfords’ effort could contact them on telephone number 347-283-8502.