In late September 2016 a tropical storm formed in the eastern Caribbean, and during its path evolved into a category 5 hurricane named Matthew. The storm, moving towards the west, affected the Lesser Antilles between 28 and 30 September bringing tropical cyclone force winds, storm surge and heavy rainfall to Barbados, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica and Grenada. During its erratic path the storm strengthened in the centre of the Caribbean Sea and changed direction to the north affecting the Greater Antilles region as a major Hurricane, between 3 and 6 October, affecting Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba, Turks and Caicos Islands, The Bahamas and the East Coast of the United States, causing heavy rainfall and major hurricane force winds and storm surge.

Several event reports were generated by RED – Risk Engineering + Design, part of the CCRIF Risk Management Specialist Team, assessing the event and corresponding damages, for several CCRIF member countries:

• Saint Lucia:

  This report describes the results of the Caribbean Rainfall Model on CCRIF member country Saint Lucia. The Caribbean Rainfall Model indicated that a Covered Area Rainfall Event (CARE) was generated in Saint Lucia, starting on 28 September and ending on 30 September 2016. As a consequence of the heavy rainfall from Tropical Cyclone Matthew over Saint Lucia, the Rainfall Index Loss (RIL) calculated for this CARE was above the Attachment Point of the country’s Excess Rainfall policy. Therefore the policy was triggered, indicating that a payout is due.

• St. Vincent and the Grenadines:

  This report describes the results of the Caribbean Rainfall Model on CCRIF member country St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The Caribbean Rainfall Model indicated that a Covered Area Rainfall Event (CARE) was generated in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, starting on 28 September and ending on 30 September 2016. As a consequence of the heavy rainfall from Tropical Cyclone Matthew over St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Rainfall Index Loss (RIL) calculated for this CARE was above the Attachment Point of the country’s Excess Rainfall policy. Therefore the policy was triggered, indicating that a payout is due.

• Dominica:

  This report describes the results of the Caribbean Rainfall Model on CCRIF member country Dominica. The Caribbean Rainfall Model indicated that a Covered Area Rainfall Event (CARE) was generated in Dominica, starting on 28 September and ending on 30 September 2016. The Rainfall Index Loss (RIL) calculated for this CARE was below the Attachment Point of Dominica's Excess Rainfall policy and therefore no payout is due.

• Grenada:

  This report describes the results of the Caribbean Rainfall Model on CCRIF member country Grenada. The Caribbean Rainfall Model indicated that a Covered Area Rainfall Event (CARE) was generated in Grenada, starting on 28 September and ending on 30 September 2016. The Rainfall Index Loss (RIL) calculated for this CARE was below the Attachment Point of Grenada's Excess Rainfall policy and therefore no payout is due.

• Barbados

  This report describes the results of the Caribbean Rainfall Model on CCRIF member country Barbados. The Caribbean Rainfall Model indicated that a Covered Area Rainfall Event (CARE) was generated in Barbados, starting on 28 September and ending on 30 September 2016. As a consequence of the heavy rainfall from Tropical Cyclone Matthew over Barbados, the Rainfall Index Loss (RIL) calculated for this CARE was above the Attachment Point of Barbados' Excess Rainfall policy and therefore the policy was triggered, indicating that a payout is due.