After two days treating casualties, clearing up and restoring power and basic facilities, HMS Richmond has been tasked to set sail in the direction of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands in the wake of Hurricane Ivan.

Further damage is expected if the hurricane passes across or near to these islands and Richmond is now racing across to a position where the Ship's Company can be deployed in support of disaster relief operations should it be needed.

Back in Grenada the island is significantly better off following the help given by teams from the ship. Having cleared the damage in the hospital and restored power over 200 casualties were treated in a combined effort with the medical team from RFA Wave Ruler the tanker and supply deployed with Richmond. Sterling efforts by the Ship's Engineers have restored power to the Radio station and cleared debris from the airport and many of the island's roads.

The British High Commissioner's offices were also restored to their former glory and are now fully operational providing the support needed to the British community on the island.

With considerable tailored and specialist help now increasingly arriving from within the region and the wider world it is judged that the worst of the disaster is over in Grenada, although full restoration of normality will inevitably take quite a long time.

HMS Richmond and RFA Wave Ruler have been released to re-deploy to other areas that lay in the path of hurricane Ivan to stand by to provide similar assistance elsewhere if needed.