ChantalPasses, Little Rain and Lightning but no Storm
Deputy ChiefFire Officer Roy Grant along with Group Fire Control Officer RalsworthMcLaughlin in the Emergency Operating Centre monotoring of tropicalstorm Chantel.
After bracing for what could have been HurricaneChantal or at least a tropical storm over the weekend the residentpopulation of these islands are now breathing a sigh of reliefas the tropical disturbance petered out to some rain and lightningMonday morning.
In giving thanks that unlike the casein Trinidad and Tobago where Chantal's lightning killed two brothers- there was no report of loss of life and damage of property owingto passage of the storm the people of Cayman Islands know onlytoo well that these are early days yet for the Caribbean hurricaneseason and not until the end of September could this nation sayit has passed the test for 2001.
(Left to right)Firemen Curtis Powell, Sidney Carlston and Jeffery Ebanks on dutyat the Command Centre
Although there were reports of near-frenzybuying of foodstuff and protective hardware for vulnerable partsof buildings there was no evidence of panic by Caymanians as thestorm made slight zigzagging movements in the Caribbean Sea Saturday.
Officials of the National Hurricane Committeebegan issuing precautionary notices since Friday evening and by1 p.m. Saturday had opened the George Hicks High School as a hurricaneshelter.
The highest level of official notice wasthat of a Tropical Storm Warning and Hurricane Watch Sunday. TheHurricane watch was discontinued Sunday night but the storm warningcontinued to Monday morning because of the expected rains thathad the potential for flooding.
By the time she got to brushing JamaicaSaturday night Chantal appeared to be veering south to take upa more westerly direction. This leaning took her off the strongwest-northwest course that would have seen her barrelling overGrand Cayman. And by Sunday evening she appeared on a more determinedpath towards Mexico and Belize.
Inching forward at speeds between 10 to15 miles per hour Chantal left the Windward Islands midweek forthe Caribbean Sea with a disorganised storm formation. Throughoutits movement this cyclone has been facing challenging high-levelwinds that were cropping it at the top and which is believed tohave been the hindrance to it gaining a hurricane force by thetime it got within striking distance of the Cayman Islands.
This storm had winds and rain reaching almost200 miles out from the center but when it passed the poorly definedeye of Chantal was some 315 miles away from Grand Cayman, theclosest of these three islands to the storm.
The emerging possibility that Chantal couldhave hit this island as a hurricane served as a reminder of ourday-to-day inter-dependence on services.
Not only did Caymanians stock up on food,water and independent lighting supplies but also they attendedto acute needs of the sick.
"With a tropical storm watch and a hurricane warning issuedfor the Cayman islands, the health Services Department is remindingpatients who are currently on medication and who will requirespecial drugs to ensure that they have sufficient supplies availablefor the next three days," the Health Services Departmentadvised Saturday.
Additionally dialysis patients were requestedto get their treatment Sunday morning and not wait for Monday.
The Humane Society gave notice to pet ownersthat special provision must be made for their charge.
"Hurricane shelters do not accept animals(only people). It is important to make arrangements in advancefor where your pet will stay during the storm. Unfortunately,the Humane Society Animal Shelter is not a suitable HurricaneShelter, and can not accept boarders either."