CaymanMike's WunderBlog

Last Updated: 2:11 AM GMT on November 08, 2008 — Last Comment: 12:44 PM GMT on August 14, 2006

	The Cayman Islands Are At Risk

Posted by: CaymanMike, 2:11 AM GMT on November 08, 2008

With all due respect to Dr. Masters and the computer models I think there is a severe danger from Paloma to the Cayman Islands that may approach Ivan: a storm from the south threatens to make a direct hit along the main tourist attaction, 7 Mile Beach. It also threatens heavy damage to the main port facilities. Ivan came in from the east and battered Grand Cayman for three days with seas and winds heavy enough to shut down the port. Until they could get the port reopened the only route in for food and other emergency supplies was air freight. A 5 pound bag of ice was going for 7 Cayman Dollars ($8.40 U.S.) and we were glad to get it. Food rationing was in force until the port could reopen. It also took several months to completely restore water and power.

Hurricane Wilma's backwash did enough damage to shut down the port facilities for several days. While it wasn't necessary to go the air freight route, the supermarket store shelves were looking awfully bare for a while.

There is also the problem that Cayman's Internet connection to the outside world through the Maya 1 fiber optic cable is quite fragile as shown by Hurricane Wilma when a ship riding out the storm dragged it's anchor and clipped the cable. Losing the Internet in the islands is a quick way to drag commerce at the retail level and at the international finance level to a screeching halt.

As a final wildcard, according to reports out of the island the government was not able to follow its usual drill of evacuating tourists and as many expatriates as possible because of the rapidly developing threat. If damage is heavy getting tourists off the island will be a difficult problem.

None of this is to paint a picture of impending doom. Caymanians are a tough bunch and they have plenty of recent experience in dealing with the immediate impact of storms and their aftermath.

However, I don't think the threat from Paloma should be downplayed. This is a very dangerous storm and while it won't be another Ivan, it presents unique threats of it's own, both in terms of immediate damage and long term damage to it's twin economic pillars of international finance and tourism.

View Comments (0)

Permalink | A A A

View Previous Entries