Though the Sister Islands saw significant damage from this week’s storm and continued to experience rough weather through Wednesday, Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly said she was encouraged to see how community members were supporting one another.
The premier visited Little Cayman and Cayman Brac on Wednesday to assess the damage.
“The seas were still coming over the seawall,” she said in an interview with the Compass. “They took massive damage to the port authority offices.”
O’Connor-Connolly said insurance appraisers visited the sister island to review the damage, understanding the urgency of hastening repairs. She said some assessments still need to be done on Little Cayman, which was affected by the storms but seemingly not as badly as Cayman Brac.
Despite the extensive damage, the premier praised those who are making progress on the cleanup.
“All the roads are now cleared, both on Little Cayman and Cayman Brac,” she said, adding that cleanup crews were starting work on government properties and beaches.
In addition to the government offices, many residences sustained some damage.
“There are a couple of homes that were inundated with saltwater,” she noted. “Our team is out there, trying to do an assessment for how we can help them, either through the [Needs Assessment Unit] or the Housing Repair Programme.”
Many residents were stepping up to help one another as well and seemed to remain in good spirits, she said. The premier said she is also grateful there was no loss of life,in spite of the widespread property damage.
To the business community, she said this storm is a reminder of why planning regulations are vital to the territory’s resilience. As business owners begin to build back, she encourages everyone to “exercise that Caymankind.”
O’Connor-Connolly acknowledged that the storm was unexpectedly rough, but she said dealing with it now is useful in preparing for what is predicted to be another active hurricane season later this year. She reminded community members to be prepared for natural disasters year-round, not just during the peak season.
In a Cayman Islands Government news broadcast, the premier added that she and her government “want to express our deepest gratitude to the district administration team, the deputy governor, and hazard management of the Cayman Islands for their leadership and coordination during this challenging time”.
“Their dedication and swift actions have been instrumental in our responsive efforts,” she said.
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