US sends experts to help Tbilisi recovery from deadly flood

The United States (US) is sending teams of experts to assist local services recover from the flash flood that caused major damage in Tbilisi last weekend.

The US government through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced it would provide a range of assistance to Georgia in the flood recovery period, including financial and hands-on support.

Today the US Embassy in Tbilisi said the first team of expert support will arrive in Georgia next week. Among the team will be an engineer, a watershed expert and a hydrologist. These and other specialists will assist local teams to clear the disaster zone before recommending short-term mitigation steps to the Georgian Government to diminish future risk of natural disaster, said the US Embassy.

The second team involving zoo specialists from the US will come to Georgia in two-three weeks’ time and offer recommendations on how to safely relocate and build a new Tbilisi Zoo.

In addition to this, US Ambassador in Georgia Richard Norland announced that after close coordination with the Ministry of Finance and Tbilisi Mayor’s office, USAID will send two US Forest Service natural resource teams to Georgia in the coming next few weeks.

The United States has already indicated that we are prepared to provide experts from the US Forest Service who can help analyse the risk of further landslides and further flooding in order to manage a situation still at risk,” Norland said.

Apparently there is a risk of additional rainfall that could lead to further problems. We want to help the Georgian authorities to understand what those risks are and how to manage them, and then when we get a specific list of requirements from the Georgian side—in terms of what financing is required, what additional projects are required – we will look at those and try to put our resources at their disposal,” he said.

On June 16, US State Department spokesperson Jeff Rathke announced the US was ready to support Georgia "in this difficult time”.

We express our deep condolences to the families and friends of those who lost lives, and as the Georgian people begin to rebuild, the United States, as a friend and partner, will be by their side,” he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, US Embassy employees joined the clean-up works at Heroes Square after being inspired by the volunteer efforts and solidarity of Georgian youth at the disaster zone.