Volcano eruptions, & now new COVID fears

Continued, predicted eruptions, light-blocking smoke and ash, and the emergence of deadly fast-moving pyroclastic flows caused by the La Soufrière volcano in St. Vincent and the Grenadines last week are adding to the mounting stress of thousands of displaced and evacuated residents.

This tension has been joined by a new specter — a possible uptick of deadly COVID-19 infections.

Nations, organizations and individuals are coming to the aid of the island nation’s residents.

The “Stronger Together Campaign: OECS Emergency Response for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines” — a relief effort from the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States — has a goal of raising $100 million dollars in two weeks to aid volcano victims, and address the disaster’s short-term and long-term impact, according to Didacus Jules, director-general of the OECS Commission.

The dominant short-term issue is displacement of persons from volcano’s danger zone — with the OECS estimating that 12,000 persons have been evacuated to shelters; 8,000 have moved in with family and friends; 5,000 going to local centers, and 7,000 gone to other islands, leaving 3,950 Vincentians “left to be accommodated.”

To donate to the OECS’ “Stronger Together Campaign for St. Vincent,” visit bit.ly/ OECSVolcanoCampaign.

According to the OECS, the long-term effects of La Soufrière volcano eruptions are ominous, including the “total devastation” of the agricultural sector and the destruction of four to seven villages.

The OECS also put the potential spread of the COVID-19 virus on high on its short-term agenda.

The COVID-19 threat was mentioned last Thursday in a tweet from St. Vincent’s National Emergency Management Organization, warning of the dire concern that coronavirus could find a fertile breeding ground among volcano evacuees in shelters or other housing.

“Health authorities in SVG concerned about possible outbreak of COVID-19 in evacuation enters,” NEMO officials posted in the tweet, that included the hashtags StopTheSpread” and gettested.”

Eyeing both the short- and long-term needs of Vincentians affected by the volcano, the “Saint Vincent Volcano Disaster Relief” — started by the South Florida-based Invest Caribbean global private-sector investment agency and the Barbados-based Ritzury Group — is getting help from the Caribbean diaspora and visitors to the region.

Donations large and small are funding the Invest Caribbean-Ritzury Group relief fund and donors have also been lending words of support in this time of need.

Visit bit.ly/SaintVincentVolcanoDisasterRelief to donate or search GoFundMe.com for the “Saint Vincent Volcano Disaster Relief” page.

Volunteers of the Nashville-based Aerial Recovery Group global emergency management company and the Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) nonprofit disaster relief organization arrived in St. Vincent early last week — aiding relief and sending photos and video of the disaster to the world.

The Aerial Recovery Group has also documented the La Soufrière eruption through photographs, video and interviews with residents — showing towering skyward-bound plumes, the ash-laden landscapes, and overflowing rivers.

Giving a glimpse into grassroots relief efforts in the midst of the volcano crisis, Aerial Recovery Group did interviews.

St. Vincent musician, singer and songwriter Skinny Fabulous (aka Gamal Doyle) explains how an impromptu team of colleagues — including “cultural ambassadors, producers, artists and engineers” — provided immediate relief by getting care packages to people in the shelters and homes.

To contribute to volcano relief effort of the Aerial Global Community, the organization’s nonprofit arm, visit bit.ly/ ag_stvincentdonations.

Recent volcanic activity in St. Vincent began with La Soufrière’s eruption on April 9, and the eruptions are expected to continue for days or even weeks, Richard Robertson of the University of the West Indies’ Seismic Research Center told The Associated Press.

Water is also an issue, but Garth Saunders, minister of the island’s water and sewer authority, said last week more water supply systems are coming back on and crews are prioritizing the return of water to bakeries — to allow residents access to basic sustenance.

But with each new eruption, the volcano shifts its shape and occurrence of pyroclastic flows increases. Destroying everything in its path, the flows — dynamic and destructive explosions of hot ash, lava and gases — can travel as fast as 100 mph or quicker.

Back in New York, the Jamaica Consulate — “calling upon the diaspora, including all associations and groups, to partner with us in providing relief assistance/support to our Caribbean sister country” — set up two dropoff locations to accept donations for its “Volcano Relief Drive.” The effort is ongoing. For information, call O’Brien Simmons at (347) 446-1827, Atiba Williams at (347) 898-7501 or Garnes Byron at (347) 856-9722.

Last Sunday, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams met with local Caribbean leaders at Brooklyn Borough Hall to discuss relief mobilization.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Consul General Howie Prince, who is a former director of the islands’ National Emergency Management Organization, and Dr. Jacqueline Gaymes, of the Irvington, N.J.-based Universal Medical Mission charity organization, were among scheduled attendees.

“On-the-ground organizations have asked for people to donate supplies such as nonperishable food, blankets, bottled water and emergency medical supplies,” said a spokesman for Adams.

Relief supplies can be dropped off at Friends of Crown Heights, 671 Prospect Place in Brooklyn, and monetary donations can be made to the St. Vincent and Grenadines Consulate. For donations and information on relief supplies, call (212) 687-4490.