The Cayman Islands Regiment has been enlisted to assist the Education Ministry to get children living in flood-prone areas home safely when schools close on Monday afternoon.
The ministry, in a statement Monday afternoon, said it will partner with the regiment to assist families residing in flood-prone areas, specifically Randyke Gardens, Windsor Park, Prospect and Red Bay.
All government schools, it said, will close at their regular time and school buses will operate as scheduled.
However, the ministry advised that certain areas are experiencing, or at risk of, flooding, which may impact transportation and student drop-off.
“As such, bus drivers will assess the situation and where it is deemed unsafe to drop off students, especially younger children, where no one is there to receive them, the children will be returned to their respective schools,” it said.
The ministry urged parents to support the bus drop-off process by being present if possible to receive their children off the bus.
The ministry said it will continue to closely monitor the weather situation in coordination with the Cayman Islands National Weather Service and “should conditions warrant any changes to school operations for [Tuesday], we will provide an update by 7pm Monday”.
The National Emergency Operations Centre, which has been partially activated, has opened its call centre line 949-6555 for residents in need of assistance.
It said while operators are standing by to help, those with emergencies should still call 911.
The RCIPS has advised motorists to avoid Printers Way if possible as a large hole has appeared on the road following Monday’s flooding.
Cones have been placed in the area to divert traffic around the hole; however, police said avoid that road “if you don’t need to use it”.
By 5:30pm the Linford Pierson Highway, both eastbound and westbound lanes, has been reopened after being closed for most of the day as flood waters rose.
Motorists are still being asked, however, “to continue to be observant and remain off roads wherever possible to mitigate risks of accidents or vehicular damage”.
Police, on Monday night, maintained road closures for Agnes Way, from its junction at Linford Pierson Highway and Crewe Road, East Boulevard, from its junction at Walkers Road and Windsor Park Road, from its junction at Walkers Road.
The Cayman Islands Humane Society had also issued an urgent plea for assistance as it began evacuating its George Town shelter Monday morning after flood waters inundated its dog and cat rooms.
In addition, Hazard Management Cayman Islands has announced that the Red Cross shelter on Huldah Avenue has been opened and is accepting residents impacted by flood waters.
The Ministry of Education and Department of Education Services, in a brief notice on Monday, advised that all public schools were open.
Local retail banks have since closed.
A Cayman Islands Bankers’ Association notice had advised that member retail banks have took the decision to close their banking centres at 2pm “in light of the severe weather impacting the Cayman Islands”.
“You are encouraged to make use of electronic banking services wherever possible. These include Bill Payments, Bank transfers and Electronic Funds Transfers via their Online Banking as well as making cash withdrawals and deposits at ATMs,” the notice added.
The National Roads Authority also issued a traffic advisory Monday afternoon urging motorists to stay off local streets where possible as “various roads across Grand Cayman are heavily flooded, making travel hazardous”.
Both the Red Cross headquarters and a secondary shelter at the East End Civic Centre are open to receive displaced individuals, it added.
The education ministry and DES have said they are closely monitoring the inclement weather conditions across the islands.
“We urge all families to monitor updates from the Cayman Islands National Weather Service and will provide further updates should the situation change,” it said.
Government, in a Monday afternoon update, said that the National Emergency Operations Centre has been partially activated “to provide coordinated and tactical relief to persons affected by flooding in Grand Cayman”.
“Led by government emergency response and disaster relief agency, Hazard Management Cayman Islands (HMCI), officials from the Police, Coast Guard, Fire Service, Emergency Medical Services, Cadet Corps and Regiment are collaborating to ensure safe evacuations of low-lying areas,” it said.
The severe weather also impacted Monday’s flights at the Owen Roberts International Airport.
The Cayman Islands Airports Authority has confirmed that flights have been diverted and one flight cancelled.
Impacted flights include: Jet Blue 765 – Diverted to Montego Bay; American Airlines 1300 – From Miami diverted back to Miami; American Airlines 301 – from Charlotte diverted back to Charlotte; Delta Air Lines from Atlanta – Diverted to Montego Bay; and Southwest Airlines from Orlando was cancelled.
Cayman Airways has said weather-related delays from across the weekend have continued to impact its flight operations and it has offered to waive change fees for passengers who voluntarily adjust their travel plans.
“Cayman Airways will waive applicable change fees, and fare difference, for travel at a later date. Passengers who wish to cancel their trip will be offered a full refund. Conditions apply,” it said.
Drivers encouraged to use caution
Authorities have urged motorists to stay off the roads where possible as flood waters rise in the wake of continued torrential downpours on Monday.
Hazard Management Director Danielle Coleman, in an audio message earlier in the day, said that “it’s important to remain very, very cautious” as the community continues to have “flooding in low-lying areas and along some roadways”.
“If plans can be made to stay off the roads, such as working from home for example, please do exercise those today. We do expect weather conditions to improve into the afternoon, but please stay focused,” she said.
The RCIPS has also issued a warning for drivers to be mindful of the conditions and fellow road users.
“This means, slowing down, increasing distance between yourself and the vehicle you are following and using your lights to both illuminate your way, and enable other drivers to see your vehicle clearly. Due to the flooding of the roadways, drivers should demonstrate courtesy and caution towards other road users, especially those walking or riding bicycles, and children making their way to school, who are particularly vulnerable to passing vehicles,” it advised.
The University College of the Cayman Islands has switched classes to online for Monday.
Updated RCIPS road closures
- East Boulevard from Walkers Road junction into Windsor Park area
- Windsor Park Road from Walkers Road junction into the Windsor Park area
- Agnes Way onto the Linford Pierson Highway
- Linford Pierson Highway westbound from King’s Sports Centre
- Logwood Way, Prospect due to downed
power lines
The foul weather also prompted the delayed start of school at Cayman International School, which was also impacted by a water supply shortage caused by a leak in the Cayman Water Company network.
That leak has also impacted a number of homes and businesses in the area by CIS, including Camana Bay.
There have been reports of significant flooding in Industrial Park, Eastern Avenue, Windsor Park, Red Bay and Owen Roberts Drive.
The Judicial Administration, in a brief statement Monday, said, that the Law Courts are advising that “due to inclement weather and the resulting traffic issues, where more convenient for litigants, court hearings can take place via zoom Monday”.
Zoom links, it said, are being sent out via email to litigants and lawyers.
Meanwhile the Department of Vehicle and Drivers’ Licensing closed its Crewe Road office following “rainwater intrusion into the main building, particularly affecting the customer lobby”.
“This situation poses significant safety risks and liabilities. We are closely monitoring the weather conditions and aim to resume normal hours of operation [Tuesday], pending further developments,” it said in the notice.
National Weather Service Chief Meteorologist Kerry Powery Linwood, in an audio update on the weather, said the abundant precipitation still remains in play over the islands, “but for the most part, most of the activity is beginning to have shift to the west of the Cayman Islands”.
“What we experiencing now is just the eastern fringes of this weather system and looking at the radar images, it seems to be concentrated on the western half of Grand Cayman. We anticipate potentially another inch to inch-and-a-half, maybe even two inches, of rainfall on this particular areas,” he said.
A weather advisory issued Monday morning stated that cloudy to overcast skies with strong to intense thundershowers are expected mainly over Grand Cayman.
“Partly cloudy skies with 30% chance of showers and possible thunder for the Sister Islands. An additional 1 to 2 inches of rainfall with the potential of 3 to 4 inches expected mainly over Grand Cayman, which will lead to enhanced flooding of already inundated areas. Less than 1 inch of rain is expected for the Sister Islands,” it said.
Winds will be southeast to south at 15 to 20 knots with higher gusts in and around heavy thunders.
“Seas will be rough with wave heights of 4 to 6 feet. Small craft should exercise caution over the open seas,” it said.
Plea for fosters
Saskia Salden, Humane Society director, said the situation is dire and they are in desperate need of assistance from residents to foster the animals until the weather calms.
“We are trying to get dogs and cats out of the shelter. The cat room is underwater, the inside run of kennels is underwater. We have managed to put some dogs from those kennels in crates upstairs, but there’s nowhere else to put the cats so if people want to come and pick up, that would be great,” she said.
There are 16 dogs in the inside-run kennels and about nine puppies who need fosters, she said.
Salden is urging volunteers to head straight to the shelter instead of calling, as the staff is busy trying to clear the water.
The Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park also issued a closure notice Monday due to “internal flooding and poor weather conditions”.
“We are extremely grateful for this rain though, so hopefully tomorrow we will be back again with an extremely lush garden to enjoy,” it said on its official Facebook page.
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