ROOFING IN DOMINICA
How Volunteers Help Survivors Recover From Hurricane Maria
OCTOBER 2, 2018
Hurricane Maria hit the island of Dominica on the evening of the 18th September, with wind speeds reaching up to 160 mph, torrential rainfall, and rivers overflowing and flooding whole areas.
More than 90% of roofs were damaged or destroyed. This figure is slowly decreasing, despite facing challenges like high-quality materials in low supply, and some roofs being rebuilt below the national housing standard.
All Hands and Hearts – Smart Response partnered with a local organization, and mobilized volunteers to fix roofs in the Calibishie area of Dominica, located on the north coast of the island.
BUILD BACK BETTER
Led by a project coordinator, volunteers take off what needs to go, and prepare new materials to rebuild the roof. Over the course of each project, the team makes sure to use hurricane resilient standards, often adding additional features not typically included.
By combining construction experience with dedicated volunteers, the team is able to make a real difference in a homeowner’s life.
For homeowners like Lennox, having a proper roof means having a sense of security. Lennox recounts Hurricane Maria:
“The roof and the sides of the walls just moved over my head, one side split first and then the other side split… I’m telling you, I would not want to experience something like that again in my lifetime.”
Lennox works alongside the volunteers to repair his roof.
