HURRICANE IVAN
Latest News Updates
Thursday, October 7, 2004
Various stories have emerged recently concerning bodies piling up in the
morgue but the public health department has confirmed that as of 4 October
2004, there were only four bodies in the morgue none of which were unclaimed.
Since September 12 there have been fourteen reported deaths in the Cayman
Islands including one from Cayman Brac. The cause of death of two of these
people is still unknown pending post-mortems; of the others one was a result
of a roof collapsing, but the rest were all natural causes.
Since Hurricane Ivan, 7 people sustained fractures; about 50 others have
received lacerations while handling debris and building damage; and 2-4
puncture wounds are reported daily as people involved in recovery and
reconstruction are injured by things like nails and scrap metal and 13,000
tetanus boosters have been given. 17 children and 3 adults have been admitted
to the hospital with diarrhoea and vomiting. Around a dozen patients daily
were treated for diarrhoea and vomiting as outpatients after the storm, but
the number has recently declined to 2-5 per day.
Checking firearms and ammunition
The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) is advising licensed firearms
owners that they should take an inventory of their weapons and ammunition
following Hurricane Ivan to ensure that they are all accounted for and asking
owners to contact 949-4222 if they discover that any of their firearms are
missing.
Legal firearms owners who sustained any damage to their residence during
the hurricane are also asked to make adequate security provisions at their
homes for their firearms and ammunition.
National Recovery Fund
The National Recovery fund is the only official fund accepting and
distributing cash to private individuals in the Cayman Islands as part of the
relief effort. The beneficiaries of the fund include any people injured,
bereaved, rendered homeless, destitute or otherwise adversely affected by the
Hurricane in the Cayman Islands on or after 11 September 2004. The trust has
already commenced making grants to assist in the restoration of roofs of the
homes of low income persons. Application forms for a grant for this purpose
can be obtained from locations such as police stations, gas stations, shelters
and churches throughout Grand Cayman.
Any fundraising on behalf of the fund is most welcomed and ideas should be
discussed with one of the trustees. Contributions, which should be tax
deductible for United States tax purposes, should be sent to any one of the
clearing banks operating in the Cayman Islands. Separate accounts have been
established in CI, US, and Canadian dollars, together with Pounds Sterling.
Ministry Relocation
The Ministry of Community Services, Youth, Sports and Gender Affairs is now
operating from its offices on the fourth floor of the Glass House. Most of its
departments are operating normally but some have been temporarily relocated.
The Children and Family Services Department is now based in Maple House, on
Maple Road, George Town, telephone 916-4285. Caribbean Haven’s Outpatient
Service is now operating from 10:00am to 4:00pm weekdays at the Cayman Islands
Hospital’s Mental Health Section tel. 325-5245. The Department of Youth and
Sports is being relocated to Trinity Square on Eastern Avenue (tel. 917-1552
or 925-7153). The Housing Trust is open in the Elizabethan Square, telephone
945-7649. The Sunrise Centre is to reopen shortly.
Government Contacts
A directory of current locations and contact information for government
departments and agencies can now be accessed at
www.gov.ky.
Government departments and other agencies are asked to check the directory
and to forward updates to GIS@gov.ky.
The directory will be updated daily for the assistance of the public.
Free Post Hurricane Health Clinics & Presentations
Due to the increase in health hazards during the hurricane recovery period,
doctors and nurses from the Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital are
volunteering their time to offer free health clinics and health talks. Health
screening clinics will be held throughout the month starting on Friday 8
October with a foot health screen clinic.
A series of health talks are also being offered to help inform the public
about pertinent health issues. All talks are taking place in the hospital’s
Physical Therapy Department, on Wednesdays from 5pm until 6pm. Please call
Sarah Diggle 949 6066 for more information.
Missing passports
The RCIP have a number of missing Caymanian passports that have been found.
For details contact the temporary police station at One Technology Square, off
Shedden Road, George Town.
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