Hurricane Irma : “The population is in need of psychological support”

Gilles Morel/SIPA

Published the 10.09.2017 at 16h33

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hurricane IrmaSaint-MartinSt Barthélémyantilles

It is a relief for the population of Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélémy. Eprouvés by hurricane Irma, the inhabitants of these islands of the lesser Antilles appear to have been spared by the cyclone José.

But if the winds of 250 km have not made the situation worse, the chaos still reigns on these tropical islands. The tensions within the population of Saint-Martin are more than palpable. At the entrance of the airport terminal building of St Martin’s, dozens of families flock to escape ” hell “. Jitteriness is such that fights broke out. To ensure security, the president and Emmanuel Macron has ordered that the sending of military and additional police officers.

Dr. Patrick Portecop, director of the Samu and the Smur at the university hospital of Guadeloupe, visited these islands are bruised just after the passing of Irma. It was part of the first mission of the assessment and recognition sent to you on-site, in the company of the minister of the overseas, Annick Girardin. He tells Pourquoidocteur what he saw.

What is the situation on the spot ?
Dr. Patrick Portecop : St Martin, I found a situation of desolation and chaos. The hurricane really wiped out homes, and even what had been rebuilt and that would resist did not.

But fortunately, we don’t look too dead and victims unlike what we can observe in the Pacific for such a phenomenon, with wind gusts of over 350 km/h. The inhabitants of these islands have the habit of hurricanes and comply with the safety instructions.

On the other hand, I have witnessed problems of insecurity. Persons, may be forced by hunger, dévalisent stores. Unfortunately, the looting does not only affect the food. All the shops are pickpocketed, and among them, the pharmacies. What worries me a lot because we can’t imagine that they are destroyed by something other than nature. The forces of law and order will secure pharmacies, but also doctors ‘ offices and clinics.

The case of Saint-Barth, there is less damage because the homes are more robust, and the population is less important. The community is also more favoured than that of Saint-Martin.

The hospital of St Martin is also in bad shape…
Dr. Patrick Portecop : In effect, the hospital is also in trouble. The roof has been carried away in large part. It should also be noted that the health professionals who work there, are doubly affected. While most have lost their home, they still have the energy to return to their jobs and taking care of the wounded. About 50 people per day come to the hospital. Fortunately this is only the small trauma that can be supported by the on-site teams supported by members of the UAS of Guadeloupe and Martinique, the reservists of the EPRUS and the firefighters.

In parallel, we have evacuated 16 injured to the university hospital of Pointe-à-Pitre, and we are preparing to evacuate others.

What do you need ?
Dr. Patrick Portecop : All the components of the national aid are represented, but they should ramp up in the next few days to respond to the anguish of growing populations.

It is also necessary to improve access to the islands. For the moment, the terrains are passable for special flights but no commercial flights. And port structures are not quite fiabilisées.

The population has need, for her, shelter, water, medicines and medical-psychological to recover from this trauma.