Damage reports from readers

Monday, September 13, 2004

We are now beginning to receive some damage reports directly from readers who have managed to get in touch with family and friends in the Cayman Islands.

We will list them here but we must emphasise that these are all unofficial and unconfirmed reports.

During Monday, September 13, alone, the Cayman Net News website was accessed over 500,000 times.  This large amount of traffic has slowed the site down considerable, and has especially affected the ability of our validation software to process the number of messages being sent to us.  Please, therefore, be patient if you find that the site is not responding and try again later.

Readers submitting messages can also help by making sure they enter a valid email address to avoid our system being even further burdened by bounced messages.  Please also turn off any Spam blocker that may prevent our confirmation emails being received.  We do not have the resources to cope with the number of messages being returned for this reason alone.

We would like to automate this system in its entirety but it seems that some people still cannot resist the temptation to send inappropriate messages, even at a time such as this, requiring us to scrutinise each message before it is posted.

Would readers also please note that we cannot at this time respond to requests for individual replies with current information. Everything we know is reported on the website.

• Obtained this from gotocayman.com - thought people would like to know. Best wishes to all islanders. God bless and take care - Ben
  • Not a single tree seen standing
  • Glass House - all windows out
  • UBS Building intact
  • Cricket Square intact
  • CNB intact
  • Queensgate House - lost metal surface, but roof intact, no news of occupants
  • Maybe 80% of houses with serious damage, interestingly many older bungalows fared well
  • Vigoro Nursery - completely gone
  • Health Care Pharmacy - missing roof
  • Passadora Place, two (maybe all) roofs gone
  • Back of Calvary Baptist Church (Walkers Road) missing
  • Hospital generator failed, hospital experienced at least some flooding
  • Chrissy Tomlinson Hospital appears operational
  • Much of Walkers Road was under 6' of water
  • All gas stations lost their overhead structures, extensive damage
  • Fitness Connection building intact, severe flooding around it.
  • Most structures on sea side of South Church Street are gone or gutted.
  • Smiths Cove - breakers rolling in still
    
     
• I spoke with my friends this afternoon who said the best communication to the island has been through text messaging on their cell phones. They had heard of at least 4 deaths, and several homes being completely destroyed. The Hyatt was completely evacuated, and the golf course totally covered with water. The South and East End was hit very hard, ruining homes and forcing several to flee to their boats and sit it out on their boats in the North Sound. Many of my friends had their roofs cave in or fly off, while others climbed onto their roofs to get out of the water. Looks like I picked a good time to be away! - Whitney
  
   
• I spoke with my parents at 8:50 am this Sunday morning and their situation was not well. They live on Willie Farrington Drive in West Bay. At that time they were in standing water in the house, the cars floating in the yard, and most of the trees in the yard had fallen. Their house is ruined with no insurance to help recover their losses. The howling of the wind was so bad that my father could barely hear me and was shouting into the telephone. I hope they still have a roof over their heads. I have not been able to re-establish communication with them. What a mess. Desmond, I am very thankful you have been able to keep the rest of the world up-to-date - Suahil Housholder
  
   
• What about the Turtle farm? I was told that it was 100% destroyed and if so are all the turtles dead? - Farida Bosuquet
  
   
• My sister was on Grand Cayman when Ivan hit. Fortunately she is safe and well. She was lucky enough to get a flight out Wednesday. She took some photos and they have been put on a website www.c.kelly.dsl.pipex.com. We are thinking and praying for all those still on the island and wish you all a speedy recovery. PS: Cayman Net News - you have been a Godsend! - Julie Campbell
  
   
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