Trailer homes, which are seen here at Creek Dock, were relocated to the Agriculture Grounds on the Bluff to accommodate homeless residents.

Officials in the Sister Islands said this week the recovery process is moving steadily despite people still living in shelters in Cayman Brac two weeks after the passage of Hurricane Paloma.

Little Cayman and Cayman Brac were severely damaged by the hurricane, which ravaged homes, business and infrastructure on 7 and 8 November. The latter experienced the worst of the category 4 storm, losing a number of its buildings and public utilities in the process.

The worst hit areas on the Brac were the Bight, Watering Place, Creek and Spot Bay in the eastern districts, according to officials. Several residents lost their entire homes, while others sustained partial damage.

Most of the residents have been temporarily relocated to shelters, with many going home during daylight hours to do repair or salvage whatever they can. Sections of Cayman Brac have city or public water, but the majority still make use of their cisterns.

Electricity is slowly returning to homes, while 80 percent of businesses are still awaiting reconnection after getting that stamp of approval from the authorities. A few businesses are already in operation.

Egbert Jackson, an official from the Command Centre, is appealing to residents to return the loaned generators, electrical cords and gasoline containers once they have received electricity.

He said the equipment may be needed by other residents who are still without public electricity.

“We are also appealing for persons not to ship off these generators to Grand Cayman or elsewhere as we are prepared to store these items in case of another natural disaster.”

“We understand what the residents are going through as we suffer the same ill-effects in Grand Cayman after the passing of Hurricane Ivan (in 2004),” he said.

Assessments have been carried out on a daily basis by the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), as they ascertain the extent of damages and how best to assist the storm victims.

So far, 12 trailer homes have arrived on the Brac. In a telephone interview on Wednesday with Cayman Net News Brac reporter Carlton Lyons, Head of Hazard Management for the Sister Islands and District Commissioner Ernie Scott said the trailer homes will be given to those most in need.

“The assessment of these individuals along with additional work to be completed on these trailer homes will be accomplished within the next week or two,” he said.

The homes are currently located on the Agriculture grounds on the Bluff and Mr Scott believes some of them will remain there as accommodation. He noted that residents with a septic tank, water and electricity may be allowed to transport them to their property.

Mr Scott and his team will also perform a further assessment of the Aston Rutty Centre shortly to determine its needs and usage, as many families move back home after repairs to their homes. The community centre is being used as a hurricane shelter.

Mr Scott said that a number of residents have received their insurance claims and this will assist Government in relocating its resources to more acute cases.

“I have seen these cheques myself and am quite pleased everyone is working together to get amicable solution during this time,” he said.

Little Cayman was not as badly damaged as Cayman Brac, but Mr Scott explained that the necessary steps have been taken to ensure supplies have reached residents there.

He said that relief aid from the Red Cross and Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) and consumable supplies left for Little Cayman on Wednesday.

Mr Scott said electricity is returning at a steady pace and that should bring some sense of normalcy in the Sister Islands in the coming weeks.

“The government is working vehemently to ensure that lives of residents will be normal soon,” he said.