CCRIF to pay out US$4m to Anguilla for Earl damage

The Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) said Tuesday it will make a US$4-million payment to the Anguilla government following the passage of Hurricane Earl through the northern Leeward Islands on Monday.

"Early reports indicate that Earl blew the roofs off buildings and downed many power lines in Anguilla. Severe beach erosion and flooding have also impacted the island. Antigua and Barbuda, and St Kitts and Nevis, both also covered by CCRIF policies, were less severely impacted, though some flooding and coastal damage has been reported," CCRIF said in a statement.

CCRIF, which is a risk-pooling facility, owned, operated and registered in the Caribbean for regional governments, said Anguilla has both tropical cyclone and earthquake policies with CCRIF as part of the island's disaster risk-management strategy.

CCRIF said it was working with regional partners, particularly the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology, and local disaster management officials in Anguilla to collect on-the-ground information relevant to hazard and risk assessment.

The payout is expected in 14 days.

The Caribbean facility insures some 16-18 regional countries against earthquakes and hurricanes.

- CMC