Sat 7:00 pm: Cayman Brac receives extensive damage from Hurricane Paloma
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| Published on Saturday, November 8, 2008 |
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The majority of buildings on Cayman Brac have sustained major damage and some roads on the South Side remain impassable following the passage of Hurricane Paloma earlier today (Saturday 8 November).
Paloma, which subjected the Sister Islands to the 140 mph sustained wind force of a Category Four hurricane, also caused extensive damage to utilities on Cayman Brac.
According to Cayman Net News Brac correspondent Carlton Lyons, approximately 50 per cent of houses have completely lost their roofs and approximately 20 per cent more have partial roof damage. Mr Lyons estimated that only 30 per cent of homes on Cayman Brac remained completely intact with no structural damage. He also said that some homes appeared to be completely destroyed.
Cayman Brac’s 1,800 residents are currently without power, running water or Internet service. Many utility poles were downed or snapped by the force of Hurricane Paloma’s powerful winds.
In addition to destroying homes, Paloma also caused damage to some of the Brac’s Government buildings and business places.
Mr Lyons reported damage to two Government hurricane shelters. Part of the roof came off at the West End Primary School, and the ceilings caved in. The same situation occurred at the Seaman’s Centre on the Bluff.
Residents sheltered at the Seaman’s Centre were relocated to the Aston Rutty Civic Centre, with some older evacuees being taken to that facility’s medical wing. The Aston Rutty Centre, also located on the Bluff, stood up well to the storm.
The roof of the Gerard Smith International Airport was also damaged, with missing shingles littering the area surrounding the terminal building. The runway at the airport was also temporarily submerged under floodwater. However, the runway is now usable and Mr Lyons witnessed an airplane taking off. It was also understood that relief flights were coming in from Grand Cayman this evening (Saturday 8 November.)
Cayman Airways has issued a press release advising that regularly scheduled flights to and from Cayman Brac will resume on Sunday 9 November.
Of the major businesses on Cayman Brac, Mr Lyons reported that Billy’s Supermarket is “completely destroyed” and the building housing Tibbetts Enterprise has lost its roof. He also reported that the Tibbetts Square Marketplace, which houses the Cayman Brac office of the Cayman Net News, has lost its roof and Paloma’s torrential rains soaked through the structure.
The Brac’s houses of worship were not immune from the high winds, and Mr Lyons observed that the Cotton Tree Bay church received extensive damage.
The Brac’s tourism sector also received significant damage, with Mr Lyons reporting that the roofs on the Brac Caribbean Beach Resort and the Brac Reef Resort were lost to Paloma’s winds.
The Carib Sands Resort received damage to the ground floor due to flooding, and several windows appeared to be blown in.
Mr Lyons reported several downed trees littering the roadways and said that Public Works department personnel were out this afternoon clearing the roads. He reported that Brac Power & Light crews were also out on the roads, as were the Police and Fire Service.
Most of the damage on Cayman Brac appears to be caused by Paloma’s high winds; however, Mr Lyons said that the district of Spot Bay also experienced extensive flooding.
Mr Lyons reported that the West End of Cayman Brac appears to be the most extensively damaged area of the island. |
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Ray Zaremba:
I spoke with our friends early this morning. He told me that there was extensive damage to Sunset cottage. We stayed there in September. Sonscapes was also damaged, windows, roof etc. The sea came up and over the roadway, through the homes |
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Carey Beachy:
Can anyone tell me if the Turtle Nest [2 pink homes] on North Side near Tibbetts Enterprise and Cotton Tree Bay Church on Cayman Brac is still standing or what damage sustained? Please contact us if anyone knows anything. Thanks. C Beachy |
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Alison A Clarey:
We own Sunset Cottage on the West End. Is there any word on its condition? I think it is 64 Georgiana, between the Copper Turtle and Jake Foster's old house. Thank you. - Alison Clarey & Reggie Linz |
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Jack & Mary Kennedy:
We are terribly distraught over the news coming out of the Brac. We have been coming to the Brac since 1993 and have made many friends there. Our sincerest wishes for health and safety go out to the staff and Trudy at Brac Reef. We also hope that Carmen Brown and her family, Jackie Dunkley and her family, and Robert, Lynne & Abby are safe and sound. Craig, hope that you weathered the storm. Also, Jason and Vicki on Little Cayman... hope you guys are safe and sound also. Our prayers are with you all. God Bless. |
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Jack and Mary Kennedy:
We are terribly distraught over the news coming out of the Brac. We have been coming to the Brac since 1993 and have made many friends there. Our sincerest wishes for health and safety go out to the staff and Trudy at Brac Reef. We also hope that Carmen Brown and her family, Jackie Dunkley and her family, Robert, Lynne & Abby are safe and sound. Craig; hope that you weathered the storm. Also, Jason and Vicki on Little Cayman...hope you guys are safe and sound also. Our prayers are with you all. God Bless. |
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R Michael:
I think that the correct house number for the Sunset Cottage is 62 Georgiana. |
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J. Viers:
All the folks at Brac Reef came out of the storm unscathed and are well. Can't say the same for the resort but that can be put back together. |
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Craig Burhart:
Jack, Thanks bud, im still in Cali building the new boat, We lost our new house on the north side, which might answer Alison and Reggie's question which is next door. I spoke to Carl this afternoon and he said its pretty rough, but you know we are Brackers and we will rebuild... damn proud of it by the way... I’m just happy no one was hurt, the rest we can rebuild... Sorry I’m not there to help right away.. Soon come... Thanks all and Love to the Sister Islands. |
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Timothy, Carolyn & Jenny Jacobs:
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of our Brac friends. To Trudy and all the staff at the Brac Reef, we hope to return soon for some R & R so will be looking for information on how everything is going. Hope that the damage is not as bad as it sounds. |
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Steve Ezell:
I have a home on the Brac, Southside just west of the Bat Cave. It is a two story yellow house with red Spanish tile roof. If anyone knows the condition, would you please update? Thank you. |
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Ross Whiteside:
Could anyone tell me how Little Cayman Beach Resort fared through Hurricane Paloma? We are scheduled to go there in two weeks? Best regards. |
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Sammie Lou Bricker:
We have a home on the South Side road and would like any information as to the condition of our house. Bricker Brac two story white with gazebo beach side. Thank you. |
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Mike Cryer:
Our prayers and thoughts are with you all at the Brac and Little Cayman. We went through Ike two months ago, and we know you all will recover. We will see you soon!
Mike, Michelle, and Cayman Jax |
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Susie Scott Tingle:
I have a sister, Alberta Scott, who lives on the West End. I was told the home was gone. My Uncle Ray and Aunt Rose are out there also. I was told they were in the Dot Marson house. Has anyone talked to them and gotten them any food and water? I was told the car cannot get out because of all the debris. Please let me know if you get any news on them. Thanks. |
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Mark and Phelecia Leitch:
I remember my daddy and my aunts and uncles telling us about the '32 hurricane. I'm thankful that 76 years later they are in the arms of Jesus and didn't have to see this hurricane. My entire family hurts for our friends and family in Cayman Brac. We are anxious to get down there to not only fix the physical damage but to renew and encourage those that we have come to know and call 'friends' over the years. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and we too, soon come. |
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Dianne Zemanek:
Bob & Susan Lueck at Sunscape; I am praying for you and all our friends in Cayman Brac. May God give you the needed strength to get through this tough time. My heart breaks for your loss. At least he spared your life. |
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Patricia and Jeff Stevens:
We have friends, Robert and Nina Banks, who own the Cayman Breakers Condominiums. Has anyone heard from them; or have any information?
Thanks. |
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LindaLee Retka:
I hope there were not any people harmed. We stayed in Cancun three months after the hurricane and plan on staying on Cayman Brac in February 09. Any report on the status of the home named Seafan Meadows? |
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Karen Neckerman:
I have a brother that lives on Brac. I have visited there many times. Love it. My heart and prayers go out to everyone. If there is anything that can be done from here in the states, please somehow let us know. Thanks. |
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Derek Glinsman:
We have a home on the South Side, 800 South Side Road East that has apparently survived with minor damage. We are interested in our friends Lance and Kathleen Boley, Alen Gee and Sue Smarrt. If anyone has information on them please reply. |
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John Murray:
To Ross Whiteside,
The reports I heard from someone in the reservations office for Little Cayman Beach Resort indicated that only one room was damaged. The 5 mile distance between the islands apparently was quite significant for this storm in terms of damage caused. I believe the staff will be contacting guests scheduled to stay at Brac Reef Beach Resort as soon as possible, but the latest word that I had heard was that there was much less damage at Little. It should be noted that this information is third-hand. But given how quickly this storm spun up, it seems likely that the wind field was relatively small.
I hope your trip to Little Cayman goes well, and I hope things get cleaned up at Brac as quickly as possible. |
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Susan L McLaughlin/Wistrand:
Can anyone tell me the condition of the Spellman McLaughlin house across the street from the government dock? That house saved over 100 people in the 1932 hurricane and was used afterwards as a commissary for the people. Also could you let me know how the large peach coloured house with the green metal roof fared the storm? |
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Susan McLaughlin Wistrand:
Can anyone tell me about the Spellman McLaughlin home across the street from the Govt. dock? Also the big house to the left of there. |
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Jim Ornellas:
I have family on the Brac and would like to see how I, and others, can help them. I understand their home was completely destroyed. Please get back to me as soon as possible. |
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Jackie Allard:
It is now November 19 and I just found out that Cayman Brac was hit hard... if anyone knows Pastor Ryan Keyser from the Baptist church, please tell him we are praying for him and his family and the people he ministers with. I will be seeing his mom Saturday and will learn more, but we're praying for you all. |
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John Marson:
Judging by the number of blown off roofs, it would appear that most of them were not installed according to code. That is, they lacked tie-down straps. Cayman Island Government needs to institute proper building codes to ensure that buildings constructed on the islands are made as hurricane resistant as possible. |
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