Charley causes a torrent of activity

Hurley’s Group employee Evart Jackson installs
hurricane shutters on the Z-99/Rooster 101 building on
Walkers Road in preparation for Hurricane Charley
Photo: Alan Markoff

Friday, August 13, 2004

Cayman Islands residents began preparing for Hurricane Charley from Tuesday afternoon, by buying supplies and safeguarding their homes and boats.

The supermarkets were the first to feel the rush. “People started coming in and sales began rising around 5:00 on Tuesday afternoon,” said Raul Mene, store manager of Hurley’s Market Place Grand Harbour. “By Wednesday 4:00 pm, this was reflected in the sales figures which were up around 100 percent, especially on canned goods and water, but takings were up too on other goods, as people came in to do regular grocery shopping.”

With a fully-stocked warehouse, Raul was confident of meeting the rising demand throughout the day as residents made sure they were ready for the hurricane. Hurley’s stores closed early on Wednesday in order to allow staff to get home and make their own preparations for the bad weather.

The scene was very similar at the Airport Foster’s Food Fair, where by mid-afternoon on Wednesday, lines of customers were several carts deep. “This morning it wasn’t too busy,” said Managing Director Woody Foster, “but it’s picked up as the day’s gone by.”

Items like lamp oil, batteries and water were selling briskly at Foster’s. “We’re probably going to sell 1,000 cases of water,” said Mr Foster.

Foster’s was also closing early Wednesday, at 8:00 pm, to give employees a chance to prepare for the storm, but Mr Foster said they would be open again on Thursday. “We’re not sure what time we’ll open, but short of the storm wiping us out, we’ll be open.”

At Kirk’s Servistar Home Centre, store manager Brigitte Kirkconnell also witnessed an increase in sales before Charley arrived. “Supplies for securing homes are definitely selling, but the store hasn’t been mobbed,” said Brigitte. “People started buying lumber, batteries, that kind of thing on Tuesday in preparation and there was a steady flow of customers.”

At Esso’s headquarters, things were running smoothly and although there was a rush of vehicles at gas pumps after around 4 pm on Wednesday, causing long queues, no gas stations reported supply shortages. Alan Nessome, Country Manager, Esso, said: “We did have a run on small businesses requiring fuel for their generators, as many had left things until the last minute, but there was no mass panic at the gas stations. We were able to keep supplies up and ensured CUC was fully fuelled.”

Although Charley was expected to pass to the north as a minimal level-one hurricane, several homeowners in South Sound, having seen relatively small storms cause massive damage in the area, were taking the storm very seriously and preparing their houses for the worst. “The sea is a dangerous thing,” said Gailya Hall, who had several workmen putting up metal plates over her South Church Street house.

Evart Jackson, an employee for the Hurley’s Group, said he started working on installing shutters on the company’s various building early in the morning. “I was out in East End from 7:00,” he said. “Everyone is making preparations, just in case.”

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