Rebuilding a Nation: The start of a long road

by Wendy Ledger

Friday, September 17, 2004

As Hurricane Ivan left the shores of Grand Cayman on Sunday evening, the Island's residents emerged from their shelters to face unimagined devastation, but, even before the dust had settled, people began the clear up operation. Trees were cleared, sand was shifted and rocks were removed from the roads.

Residents began picking over what remained of their possessions and began drying what was salvageable in Monday's welcome sunshine. Radio Cayman returned to the airways and the officially-organised clear up operation began in earnest.

Businesses that had them, fired up their generators and calls were placed on the radio for all hands on deck. Special constables, fire service officers, medical personnel, volunteers for shelters, Public Works and the staff from many of the Island's supermarkets were all called to work if they could get in and their circumstances allowed.

Once the airport opened, aircraft carrying valuable supplies were landing throughout Tuesday and the airport planned to be fully operational with night flights by Friday 17 September.

By Wednesday morning, Caribbean Utilities Company, Grand Cayman's sole electricity provider, had raised many of their power poles in order to restore power lines and were planning to have power in parts of George Town by Thursday 15 September. Water inspections were being carried out from property to property as the Water Authority and Cayman Water Company began assessing how quickly piped water could be returned to George Town.

From Wednesday 14 September the National Hurricane Committee had trucks ready to provide potable water free of charge to those who were in need. Emergency canteens were operating all around George Town and the British Royal Navy had arrived ready to assist in shelter management water distribution first aid and essential engineering work started Wednesday 14 September.

Cayman is down but it isn't finished.

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