Reprinted from Caribbean Net News
caribbeannetnews.com
GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands: The centre of Hurricane Emily passed by some 100 miles to the south of Grand Cayman during the early hours of Sunday morning, bringing with it strong winds but no heavy rainfall.
By 10 pm on Saturday 16 July Hurricane Emily had begun to whip up fairly strong winds that were felt across the Cayman Islands. Unaccompanied by any rain at all for approximately an hour, a light but sporadic drizzle eventually started to fall.
Steady, but far from heavy, rain came only in the early hours of the morning – just a little before the 2:00 am hour when official warnings had indicated that the worst of the storm’s effects would be felt here.
The sound of the rain on many metal and plywood shutters was made stronger by the consistent wind that increased in intensity from time to time. But the amount of water on the road later that morning indicated that the amount of rain was far less than received when the island is feeling the effects of a normal low pressure system
Right up to 8 am, the wind was the most consistent feature of the hurricane -- strong enough to disrupt cable signals throughout the islands. By 9 am -- the time when advisories had indicated that the effects of hurricane would begin to dissipate, the sun was breaking through the cloud cover. Light wind, light cloud cover, with very little sun continued throughout the morning into the early afternoon.
The National Hurricane Committee issued the All Clear for all three islands at 9:00 am, as Hurricane Emily continued on its west-northwesterly path at 20mph.
While weather conditions were forecast to remain wet and windy through Sunday morning, conditions gradually improved throughout the course of the day as Emily gradually retreated from our area.
Telephone and electricity services were not affected by the storm and the water supply was expected to be back on-line on Sunday. Airport activities resumed around noon.
Some 700 people took refuge in hurricane shelters overnight out of a total shelter capacity for Hurricane Emily of 4,000.
“We have all been extremely fortunate once more to have been spared the potential wrath of a very serious storm. I’m extremely pleased to have seen the efforts made by so many people to prepare for ‘the worse’ while praying for the best. In this business, it is simply the only smart thing to do,” said NHC Chairman Donnie Ebanks.
"The NHC is particularly grateful for the strong support and active involvement of the Cabinet and indeed all parliamentarians. And I am personally grateful to all of my many colleagues who contribute to the NHC efforts and make my role so easy,” he added.
The RCIPS announced that the curfew imposed on Saturday night had been discontinued as of 9:00 am on Sunday. However, the public were advised to continue to take safety precautions with the weather, particularly on the coastline. The police were to continue to patrol in numbers.
Five persons were reportedly arrested for breach of curfew and drug offences.
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