Hurricane Ivan pounds Eastern Caribbean, 3 dead in Grenada

This 07 September, 2004 NOAA enhanced satellite
image shows Hurricane Ivan located south of Barbados
AFP PHOTO/NOAA

This 07 September, 2004 National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) enhanced satellite
image shows now tropical depression Frances
(Upper-L) and Hurricane Ivan (Lower-R)
AFP PHOTO/NOAA

Wednesday, September 8, 2004

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: Three deaths in Grenada are being blamed on Hurricane Ivan after the powerful storm swept across the Caribbean island nation devastating its capital, St. George's, according to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA).

The eye of the storm moved over Grenada early on Tuesday, with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph -- a Category 3 storm. It has since intensified into a Category 4 hurricane and is heading westward across the Caribbean Sea toward Jamaica.

Grenada -- with about 90,000 residents -- is southernmost of the Windward Islands, just north of Trinidad and Tobago. The hurricane destroyed the residence of Grenada's Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Mitchell, CDERA reported.

Donovan Gentles, CDERA's Preparedness and Response Manager, said the agency had lost contact with Grenada's emergency operations center and did not have any details on the deaths.

According to Richard Allan Nixon, the Hon Consul-General of Grenada in Miami, Grenada suffered a direct hit from Ivan and preliminary reports indicated that there was tremendous damage to personal property, livestock, produce and life.

The Caribbean Disaster Response Unit is deploying restoration teams to Grenada and power utility restoration teams from Belize, Turks and Caicos, Cayman Islands, and Antigua will also head to the devastated island.

CDERA also reported that H.M.S. Richmond, the British Naval patrol vessel is on standby to respond immediately to any emergencies in Grenada.

The storm, coming just days after Hurricane Frances, also damaged homes in Barbados, St. Lucia and St. Vincent.

"Grenada felt the full brunt of this storm," said Chris Hennon, a meteorologist at the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Earlier Tuesday, Ivan damaged at least 176 homes in Barbados, which was buffeted by gusts up to 90 mph as it passed south of the island, according to relief director Judy Thomas and meteorologists.

"We are very lucky," said Chester Layne, Barbados' chief meteorological officer. "Had we been impacted by the main core of Ivan ... it could have been catastrophic."

In neighboring St. Vincent and the Grenadines at least 45 houses were damaged, officials said. St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves said the storm tore the roof off a hospital and damaged several houses on Union Island.

"The sea has come in and removed a couple of houses. Apparently there were waves of up to 20 feet high so that has been very terrible," Gonsalves told a Trinidad television station.

A half dozen houses in St. Lucia lost roofs. Two people there fell while helping neighbors repair roofs and were hospitalized, officials said.

In Tobago, Max James of Channel 5 reported very strong winds, with power down in many areas, poles breaking, trees bent at over 40 degrees. Galvanised roofs were blowing off schools as well as houses. Channel 5 is on Signal Hill and observed galvanized sheets being ripped off the local school. James’s own phrase was "peeling roofs off like banana skins."

CDERA provided the following summary of the impact of Hurricane Ivan on the various islands of the Eastern Caribbean:

Barbados
There was island wide power outage except for the major health care facility, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Power is being restored to the island. More than 221 houses damaged particularly in the southern part of the island in the parishes of Christ Church, St Philip, and St Michael. Some utility poles were down and some areas were without landline telephone service. All cellular services were operational. There were also reports of coastal damage associated with storm surge. Water supply remained functional.

One death in Barbados cannot be confirmed as attributed to Hurricane Ivan at this time.

Trinidad and Tobago
The twin islands of Trinidad and Tobago experienced tropical storm force conditions. Tobago experienced the greater impact.

In Tobago 14 villages reported damage, 33 homes reported either total or partial roof damage, utilities down across many areas of the island.

The International Federation of the Red Cross in Trinidad reports that damage has been concentrated in the northern part of the island Charlotteville and Speyside were without power, as were some other areas.

Grenada
Grenada was the most significantly impacted of the CDERA Participating States. Reports indicated significant damage with three deaths reported so far. Utilities in all areas were out with exception of cell phone coverage.

The capital of St Georges suffered incalculable damage. The Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) and the Prime Minister's residence were destroyed. No one in the EOC or Prime Minister's residence was reported hurt. The main hospital was damaged as well as some shelters. The people in those shelters were moved to others. The population in public shelters is 1,000 and climbing.

St Vincent and the Grenadines
No fatalities or severe casualties have been reported.

More than 1, 000 people in shelters. Power was down island wide. Storm surge inundated coastal areas and destroyed 19 homes from which 63 were evacuated. More than 40 other homes were damaged. Areas which sustained most damage were Georgetown, Canaries, and Argyle.

The hospital on Union Island lost its roof.

Saint Lucia
Minor roof damage reported. Two people injured while trying to repair a roof. They are hospitalized. No fatalities reported.

The Dennery Police Station had to be relocated from its coastal location. No damage to roads has been reported. Electricity is off in one area where lines were sparking. Power to the areas was disconnected by the electricity supply company. Water supply is locked off in some areas. Phone service is up in all areas.  

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