Posted September 9, 1:09 am Here’s the latest situation report from the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA) All utilities were knocked out but limited communication has been restored with the Emergency Operation Centre (EOC). A CDERA team is on the ground in Grenada providing support to the stressed Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) personnel and confirming priority needs. Representatives from USAIDs Office for Foreign Disaster Assistance and the Pan American Health Organisation are also on the ground. A Rapid Needs Assessment Team (RNAT) comprising multi-discipline specialist from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the Office for Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA), International Federation of the Red Cross, UNICEF, UNIFEM, PAHO, Environmental Unit of the OECS, and CARILEC A vessel with relief supplies from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) of Trinidad and Tobago leaves Thursday for Grenada. NEMA is the CDERA sub-regional focal point with responsibility for Grenada. Sixty people are hospitalized with injuries. The British naval vessel HMS Richmond is assisting the Grenada Broadcasting Network with establishing an emergency transmitter so that the Government may communicate with the people. They also restored power to the Grenada General Hospital and restocked it with medical supplies from its own stores. Nine of every ten buildings are damaged or destroyed. Virtually every school and church in the Capital St George’s as well as the police headquarters has been destroyed. The only two buildings in reasonable condition are the Grenada General Hospital and Government Headquarters. There is no water, no electricity and very limited cell phone coverage. Only some cell towers are functional. Security situation is grave and the Regional Security System has deployed security personnel. All prisoners are on the loose. Coast Guard has no search and rescue facilities. EOC communication was re-established with the assistance of Grenadian amateur radio operators. The habour is open though a 300-foot vessel is lodged there. The airport runway has been cleared but the control tower is not yet functional. CDERA is opening an appeal account at FirstCaribbean International at their 80 branches in 20 countries in the Caribbean to support deployment of the response teams. CDERA is coordinating with the International Federation of the Red Cross information on the health and welfare of residents and visitors to Grenada. SOURCE: CDERA