As repair crews and aid supplies arrived this morning on the devastated Sister Islands, some Cayman Brac residents started leaving the island for Grand Cayman.
Overturned containers at the port on Cayman Brac. Many of the containers fell into the road during Paloma, blocking access to and from Spot Bay. Photo: Tammie C. Chisholm |
They may be in for a long stay.
A Caymanian Compass reporter who took a tour of the Brac Sunday said there wasn’t a single structure still standing that hadn’t sustained some damage. And many weren’t standing anymore.
Cayman Islands’ national airline announced that voluntary evacuations would begin from Cayman Brac Sunday, if conditions and space permitted, for residents who wished to travel to Grand Cayman.
Cayman Airways officials said the flights would be free of charge and offered over the next four days “as operations permit.”
The first jet flight to the Brac left Grand Cayman around 5.30pm and was scheduled to return later in the evening with hurricane evacuees, mainly the elderly and children who could no longer stay on the island.
The Compass observed Little Cayman on a fly-over Sunday morning, but damage appeared to be minimal compared to what had occurred in the Brac. Residents on the smallest island said they had fared substantially well in the storm, and simply wanted their power back.
All of Cayman Brac Sunday was without power, and Caribbean Utilities Company crews were working with Cayman Brac Power and Light on restoration efforts. There was no word on when power might be restored.
Although flights were heading back and forth to Cayman Brac Sunday, flood waters had still not been entirely cleared from the runway.
Cayman Brac residents line up in the front of Biillys Supermarket Sunday to get free food. The largest supermarket on the Island was destroyed in Hurricane Paloma. Photo: Tammie C. Chisholm |
Hurricane Paloma left a trail of destruction on both Little Cayman and Cayman Brac after striking the islands early Saturday with sustained winds of up to 140mph, and higher gusts. Entire houses were destroyed in the storm and many other structures had their roofs damaged or ripped off entirely.
There were injuries reported on the Sister Islands Saturday, but no deaths. Damage to Grand Cayman was relatively minor in comparison after the storm moved around the main island to the east Friday night.
District officials were in the process of determining which Sister Islands’ residents might have to be relocated to Grand Cayman because they had nowhere to stay. It was unknown how many people had been left homeless by the storm.
While damage assessment and assistance efforts continued Sunday on Cayman Brac, residents in Grand Cayman pitched in to help out the beleaguered Sister Islands.
Between 10 and 15 tons of water, food and equipment was loaded on board the Carib Eagle, a craft usually used to transport cruise ship passengers to the George Town dock. It was converted into a barge to bring supplies to Cayman Brac.
Donations to those left homeless or without supplies were made at Harbour House in Prospect throughout the day by companies and individuals. In fact, so many donations came in that government officials had to ask people to stop making them by Sunday afternoon. Supplies to the Brac would be distributed by the district administration office there.
Harbour House owner Adrian Briggs also planned to send two fishing boats loaded with ice to the Sister Islands as well.
“They’re going to need ice,” Mr. Briggs said. “Primarily (on the Carib Eagle) we’ve got water, food, generators and gas dispensers.”
Chamber of Commerce CEO Wil Pineau said truckloads of supplies from wholesalers and retail stores had come in throughout the day to Harbour House, along with cars and SUVs of private individuals.
The Carib Eagle was due to depart at 6pm Sunday, arriving in Cayman Brac at about 4am Monday.
Other agencies were also sending aid over to the Sister Islands Sunday.
Supplies are offloaded at the dock at Brac Reef Resort. Photo: Tammie C. Chisholm |
A medical team of ten people flew over to the Brac on the Island Express flight at noon Sunday. The team is composed of the Medical director Dr Greg Hoeksema, HSA acting CEO Lizzette Yearwood, another doctor, psychologist, two nurses, two emergency medical technicians and two facilities people.
“We are bringing over a load of medical supplies including tetanus shos. We have no idea how long we will be there but we will be there as long as they need us,” said Dr. Hoeksema.
Cayman Islands Red Cross workers were attempting to get volunteers and supplies on a flight over to the Brac this weekend, but no clear indication had been given as to when there would be room on CAL twin-prop planes.
“We have some Red Cross volunteers based in the Brac but they are under a lot of stress because they have been there through the whole hurricane and have been traumatised from their own loss. It is really important to send fresh volunteers as soon as possible over there to alleviate some the stress and strain off the volunteers. And we are trying everything we can to get them on flights over there but it has been really difficult,” Red Cross Manager Hemant Balgobin said.
The Red Cross team eventually headed out on the live-aboard dive boat Aggressor Sunday afternoon bringing some relief supplies.
Two RCIPS marine vessels have arrived in Cayman Brac with relief security personnel on board. A curfew for Cayman Brac residents will be in place between the hours of 10pm-6am each day until further notice.
The British ship Waveruler had also arrived Sunday to provide humanitarian assistance.
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