As unhappy and upset as many in the Cayman Islands are about the damage Hurricane Paloma wrought, one thing can be certain.
We can thank God that no lives were lost.
For those of us on Grand Cayman Paloma was basically just another weather nuisance. Yes, there was damage to some buildings and flooding did occur.
But by and large – compared to Hurricane Ivan in 2004 – we were basically unscathed.
Unfortunately the same thing cannot be said of the Sister Islands, especially Cayman Brac.
The Caymanian Compass kept hearing awful rumours about conditions on Cayman Brac as Paloma left that Island’s shores.
So we decided to find out ourselves.
On Sunday morning private pilot Roy McTaggart offered his services of a flight to the Brac. He was one of several private pilots offering to ferry people onto and off the Brac, free of charge. The efforts continued Monday.
Believe us; the Brac is in a bad way.
Those of us who were on Grand Cayman during and after Hurricane Ivan can remember the total devastation and the awful smell of things dying and decaying.
That is what it is like on Cayman Brac.
Taking a windshield and walking tour of the Brac, it appears that not one building was left unscathed. There was some amount of damage everywhere.
Power lines and guy wires littered the roads and power poles had been snapped like thin toothpicks.
Some houses and at least one church just don’t exist any more while many had no roofs or only the skeletal remains of roof trusses showed.
The people in Cayman Brac need our help.
Leader of Government Business Kurt Tibbetts told us Monday morning that distribution centres were being set up and goods were going to people as soon as possible on Monday.
The public and private sector have pulled together to get food and other necessities to the Brac, but more is needed.
Specifically, Brackers need tarpaulins and generators.
While CUC was feverishly working Sunday, Monday and continuing this week to get power restored to the Brac, it won’t all be done in one fell swoop. Restoring power to the Brac will be like it was on Grand Cayman after Ivan. While some may get it this week, others may have to wait months.
And in the meantime there roofs – if they have any – will need to be protected from rain and generators will be needed to they can do the basic things like taking a hot shower, flushing toilets, washing clothes, cooking and cleaning.
If you haven’t contributed to the Brac, please do so. Many private individuals on Grand Cayman with ties to Cayman Brac are taking necessaries over to the Brac on their personal boats or planes. The Red Cross is taking over supplies and volunteers and Government is keeping up its efforts to get donations to those in need.
If you can, please help and keep the people of the Sister Islands in your prayers.
We know from experience they have a long row to hoe. We can help.
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