TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO NOVEMBER 2022 FLOODS FINAL REPORT (2023)

On 25 November 2022, the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Services (Met Service) issued Adverse Weather Alert #1 with effect from 26 to 27 November. During the morning of 26 November, Trinidad began experiencing rainfall which was concentrated in the northern and central parts of the island. Compounding weeks of constant rainfall caused ground level saturation and many major watercourses were already filled. Several communities along the eastwest corridor experienced street and flash flooding. The Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross Society (TTRCS) Crisis Management Coordinator along with CDRT Teams in Caroni were in the field conducting visual assessments in these areas to confirm the severity of the floods. The Community Disaster Response Team (CDRT) in Caroni alongside the Disaster Management Unit (DMU) in the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation used boats to assist in evacuating persons from the Real Spring Community as the water levels began reaching dangerous levels inside persons homes.

On Monday 28 November 2022, the TTRCS began response operations to the affected communities. In consultation with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) one of the first priorities was cooked meals for communities that were isolated by flood waters and residents not being able to leave. In the five affected municipalities of Tunapuna/Piarco, Penal/Debe, Sangre Grande, Mayaro/Rio Claro and San Juan/Laventille, the TTRCS was able to utilize the service of its own Kitchen to provide a total of 660 hot meals during the 29 to 3 December.