Post Hurricane Ivan Update
Trip Start
Jul 08, 2004
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2
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Trip End
Aug 27, 2006
Polly Ground,
Jamaica
Saturday, October 2, 2004
It has been 22 days since hurricane Ivan and this is our first entry since then. Hurricane Ivan certainly caused a good amount of damage in Jamaica. Rogean and I have been surveying the damage in our local community in the Ewarton area (North St. Cathrine). I have also had the chance to visit Portland Cottage, a town in the parish of Claredon, which sustained severe damage from hurricane force winds (approx 120-150mph) as well as storm surges flooding homes. People have been displaced from about 250-300 homes along with damage to many churches. Most people across the island have had power restored, although water remains contaminated. Some areas are relying on water to be trucked in because water lines are broken.
Our house in Polly Ground was not affected. The hurricane came on Friday and all PC volunteers were required to consolidate to Kingston on Wednesday. Our accommodations in Kingston were good and we had adequate food and water. However, I think we are very fortunate that the eye of the hurricane did not come on the island. If so, I think the hotel we were in would have sustain considerable damage. It was a comfort to be with other volunteers during the storm. Hurricane Gilbert which was a category 3 caused more damage on the island about 12 years ago. Most of the damage is agricultural which people rely upon as a source of income. In our community I'd say 75% of the houses with zinc panel roofs came off with 10% of them sustaining structural damage to the roof framing or walls. In Polly Ground I have visited about 70 homes and still have some more to visit. Many of the houses were already in disrepair. A few are not houses but shacks constructed from zinc sheeting, found plywood, tree branches, etc. I will upload pictures some time later and send out an update.
Again we are okay and grateful to have come through this with our lives and health.
