Brackers weather Hurricane Dennis

Simone Scott is ready for anything inside Peter’s Cave
on Cayman Brac.

Monday,  July 11, 2005

When residents of the Cayman Islands hear the word ‘hurricane’, they must decide whether to search for some place of refuge or to remain at home. In its passage over Jamaica Dennis shifted North but the risk was still there, as we all know from Hurricane Ivan, storms are a law unto themselves.

While quite a number of people hastily made their way to the shelters provided by the Government, others packed their precious belongings and found sanctuary in the nearest cave.

The Bluff is a remarkably safe place from flooding, high winds, and storm surges of hurricanes. For those who are not lucky enough to own a piece of it, and find shelters to be very crowded and uncomfortable, they head straight for the caves.

More than 200 people sought refuge in caves on the Bluff when Hurricane Ivan hit the Cayman Islands in September 2004.

This hurricane season, Simone Scott is bunking at Peter’s Cave in Spot Bay with her family.

“I find the caves are very safe and the roof can’t come off. Peter’s Cave has a very small mouth but it is very spacious inside. This makes it really protective because it doesn’t allow too much wind or rain into the cave. It is really safe; it’s about a hundred feet high, so if water gets up there, then we are all in trouble!” she said.

Caves in Cayman Brac’s Bluff have offered protection to locals during hurricanes for as long as there have been people on the Island, and there were an estimated 200 people using these traditional shelters during Hurricane Ivan.

While Peter’s Cave is the best known traditional hurricane shelter on Cayman Brac, at one time, many families had family caves that provided refuge during storms.

Roy Walton, who has lived on Cayman Brac all his life, told Cayman Net News that one of the greatest caves in Spot Bay is Old Lady Cave, which belonged to his grandmother Oretta Dixon.

The cave was always prepared, and one of the traditional roles of the women was to keep the caves in good order in case of a hurricane, he said. There were spring mattresses inside and a wooden toilet was made for the people inside.

Those sheltering included a number of old and handicapped, twelve in all, with one person who was in her 90’s, he said.

Old Lady Cave was a refuge in the terrible 1932 Storm for many people. Although this was before Mr Walton was born, he has heard stories all his life of this storm and how the seas came right up to edge of the cave.

Hurricane Allen in 1980, he remembers well, however. During this storm, sixty-four people took shelter in Old Lady Cave. The women and children sheltered inside, but the men lined up outside, where they were protected by the overhang from tumbling rocks.

“We were all seamen, so we didn’t mind getting wet and shivery and cold, so long as the women were safe,” said Mr Walton.

“The hurricane came over like a wildfire and made everything flat,” he said. With the bush gone and the trees bare, he could see his house across the road.

“Well, we’ll have no more house,” he thought at the time. But the house survived, and so did all the people.

Eight years later, the cave filled up again for Hurricane Gilbert. This time those sheltering included four tourists, who preferred to stay and experience the storm rather than cut short their vacation, said Mr Walton.
However, more and more Brackers, including Mr Walton are finding that building on the Bluff provides a more comfortable shelter.

Twelve years ago, Mr Walton, a construction contractor on Cayman Brac for 25 years, built a private shelter on the Bluff, where his whole family remains safe and comfortable during any passing storms, including Ivan last year.

A large number of people still go to the Government shelters, though some of them have said that conditions can be extremely unpleasant.

“It was very hot and overcrowded. The officials staying there were allowed to enjoy the comfort of air conditioning, yet the rest of the people could not, especially the elderly and sick who, you would think, should have been treated fairly, to say the least,” said one Bracker, who stayed at the Ashton Rutty Centre last year during Ivan.

Government offices closed at 11:00 am and hurricane shelters opened 3:00 pm Thursday 7 July on the Sister Islands. Quite a number of people battened up and secured their belongings the day the warning was given for the Cayman Islands.

Tibbetts Enterprise was busy throughout 6 July, as many were trying to buy as much wood as possible before it ran out. Supermarkets on the Brac found the last few days before the hurricane were very busy with the hustle and bustle to attain necessities, such as non-perishables, batteries, matches and candles.

Lines at gas stations on the Island were long as people filled up their cars and bought extra gas in preparation for the storm.

The Cayman Brac and Little Cayman Seaman and Veteran’s Centre held 165 people during Hurricane Ivan in 2004, and again opened their doors for residents sheltering from this storm.

Members say that this private shelter is necessary because the two official shelters do not have enough space for everyone who needs it.

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