TRINIDAD & TOBAGO gratitude after the disaster n September 2017, the hurricane season “Words can´t explain. It’s…I By the end of 2021, with the support of Proman had not yet begun when heavy rains have no words for that. Knowing and Republic Bank Limited, Habitat repaired I surprised the islands of Trinidad and you’re working so hard and for more than 60 homes and also provided Tobago. As a result, many communities in the training on resilient construction techniques, north and south-west of the country had two so long to build something so disaster preparedness, and household hygiene days of 昀氀ooding, which wreaked havoc and comfortable for your family and practices to prepare vulnerable communities damaged thousands of homes. for future disasters. Annette remembers that day as if it were just see it go in a split second yesterday. “The weather just changed. Place like that, it was not a pleasant “To the supporters, the people just got black, it wasn’t even in hurricane season moment.” said Ragoonanan. who are putting their money not yet or anything like that. And we heard a loud knowing where it is going, and to crash, so all of us ran outside and we went to the back, and we looked, and the whole bank After the emergency, Habitat for Humanity Trinidad who it is bene昀椀tting, right?, I am here from on top was sitting on my house.” and Tobago activated its disaster response to say thank you, because without program. It began with a damage analysis and the Ragoonanan and his family also witnessed development of a project to repair houses and you guys doing this, it wouldn’t be how their home was damaged by the water provide training in a昀昀ected communities. possible.” said Annette. and mud piled up. PAGE. 36 habitat.org/lac