Cyclone Giovanna is gone, now is the time to take stock

One day after a windy and rainy Valentine´s day, sun recovered the eastern and central highlands of Madagascar. A country far more frightened than damaged is now relieved. 17 casualties and dozens of injured, the hurricane Giovanna’s record could have been much heavier, for such powerful cyclones rarely dash throughout the country as it did. It slightly curved towards the south and extended by so doing the affected area. On Wednesday, February 15th, by the end of the afternoon, the hurricane skirted Madagascar´s southwestern coast, and broke out into the Mozambique Channel. No come back is to be expected.

Several areas affected

Giovanna entered the Malagasy territory in the night of February 13th, 2012. 7 casualties were reported in Brickaville, and 8 ones Moramanga. Both towns located deeper in the inland were more surprised than the coastal town of Vatomandry which suffered many damages, but no reported casualties. Traditional houses in the Indian Ocean´s small towns with walls and roofs made of vegetal materials are highly resistant to medium sized hurricanes. Following the passage of Giovanna, most of the damaged houses have been repaired. In Moramanga and Brickaville, reconstruction is likely to last significantly longer.

In Antananarivo, roofs were the main victims. Ten houses have however been damaged some of them to the ground. In Ambohimangakely, floods brought one house down. The RN2 road is cut for the bridge collapsed.

In the commune of Sabotsy Namehana, flooding has caused damage. A dike broke into pieces, the Mamba river´s water overflew. Two people including a child, drowned. Cars were washed away. In this rice growing area in the outskirts of the capital city, over 400 ha of rice fields got lost underwater. Without any quick water withdrawal or removal, the whole crop is likely to get definitely down.

Immediate reactions
The APIPA, the agency in charge of Antananarivo´s valleys could barely keep the capital city´s districts safe from floods. The pumping station temporarily went out of order for lack of electricity. Water could merely be removed by opening valves. The Andriantany channel remained under control. In the aftermath of the cyclone, the pumping station was able to pump out three cubic meters of water per second, merely one third of its capacity.

Giovanna´s traces have been swept away as quickly as possible in Antananarivo, apart from major damages. The army led by the Civil Protection Corps helped clearing the land and removing trees taken away by landslides. The water and electricity supplying company restored limited supply in the capital city´s districts.

Giovanna left nearly 18,000 victims behind. The BNGRC, the national institution in charge of managing the situation after natural disasters is capable of supporting some 70,000 people during the year 2012´s hurricane season, with a potential number of 700,000 victims. The Malagasy authorities also receive support from partner countries and organizations. The United States of America were the first of them by providing some US$50,000 in emergency aid fund. Victims may expect tents and first aid kits.