Cayman Islands suffer 'catastrophic damage'
Hurricane Ivan is shown in this NOAA satellite image released
September 12, 2004
Monday, September 13, 2004
GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands: At 2 am
local time Monday, as telecommunications improve, at least temporarily, we are
now able to provide a preliminary report on the impact of Hurricane Ivan on
Grand Cayman, which has been described as ‘catastrophic’.
There have been unofficial and unconfirmed reports of some deaths, but no
further details are known at this time. There have also been reports of
looting taking place along Eastern Avenue in George Town.
A huge surge of water is said to have come from the North Sound along the
aptly named North Sound Road and through George Town, to meet a similar surge
from South Sound travelling in the opposite direction along Walker’s Road.
It is to be expected that the high-end houses along South Sound and in the
South Church Street/Webster’s Estates area would have been severely affected
by the tidal surge and heavy seas. At one
point the entire island seemed to be swamped by a tidal surge that could have
been up to 15 or even 20 feet high. Trees
have been blown down or, if left standing, have been completely defoliated. A
great many roofs have been blown off, including that of the Islay Conolly Hall
at John Gray High School, which was being used as a hurricane shelter.
A large number of power lines are down and CUC is starting on a preliminary
damage assessment. There have been reports of
some damage to the hospital, along with flooding of the Government
Administration Building. Supermarkets are
hoping to open Monday, despite some having suffered significant damage. Gas
stations were also reporting some heavy damage.
On a private note, the glass doors at Cayman Net News thankfully resisted the
worst of the flooding, even though at times it was like looking at an aquarium
(complete with tadpoles) as the water rose some three feet outside the glass.
Further reports will be published as circumstances and communications permit.
Back...
Most popular
articles: viewed, printed and e-mailed
Printable
version
| 
