HURRICANE RAFAEL’S BIG HIT ON LITTLE CAYMAN

In the dark hours of late night Tuesday November 5th and the early hours of Wednesday November 7th Little Cayman suffered one of its biggest disasters in recent memory as the eye of Category One Hurricane Rafael passed directly over the island.

Fortunately no serious injuries or loss of life were reported as the around 200 residents of the 10sq mile small Sister Island had heeded the advice of the national disaster preparedness agencies and stick to their own time-proven safety practices.

Nonetheless, the smallest of the Cayman Islands has suffered a severe battering that will take some time to recover from.

In the immediate aftermath of the storm’s landfall Hazard Management Cayman Islands (HMCI) moved into the response phase following their previous preparation efforts in advance of the storm which swept across Little Cayman as it passed through the area.

Working tirelessly to support the local community in the wake of the Category 1 storm’s landfall on Little Cayman, the department carried out critical damage assessment trip to the Sister Islands and encountered the extent of the damage inflicted in Little Cayman.

The Cayman Islands National Weather Service (CINWS) and Department of Communications spearheaded preparedness messaging over the weekend, providing the public with timely forecasts. Internally, HMCI reported that it took early steps to support these efforts, placing key departments on standby as the storm approached.

“On Tuesday, November 5, following the National Hazard Management Executive meeting, the National Emergency Ooperations Center(NEOC) was activated. Briefings were held every 6–8 hours to facilitate data-driven decision-making, ensuring the safety of residents and visitors.”

The agency also repirted that as Hurricane Rafael intensified and turned toward the Sister Islands, teams were mobilized to enable rapid response and recovery on the ground.

HMCI said in a statement: “Through dedicated teamwork and collaboration,HMCI remains committed to rebuilding and strengthening community resilience in the aftermath of Hurricane Rafael.”

MIN. BRYAN COMMITS TO LITTLE CAYMAN RECOVERY

Meanwhile, Hon. Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism, Kenneth Bryan, has made a firm commitment that he will help the Sister Islands, especially Little Cayman,  bounce back after the storm.

Mr Bryan had arranged an urgent trip to evaluate the extent of the damage incurred and assess the needs especially of the tourism sector.

As a first step, the  Ministry of Tourism has said that its immediate focus has been on ensuring the safe evacuation of visitors off Little Cayman.

Around 110 visitors along with the normal resident population of approximately 200 rode out the storm as it swept across the island.

The Department of Tourism, in coordination with Cayman Airways, had arranged shuttle flights to provide 150 seats from Little Cayman to Cayman Brac, and onward to Grand Cayman, to safely transport residents and visitors off the island.

It said additional flights will be added if necessary, to accommodate any remaining persons wishing to leave, particularly during the interim until services such as electricity and internet have been restored.

Min. Bryan expressed deep concern for both the residents and visitors affected by the hurricane, stating: “The Ministry of Tourism is acutely aware of the damage that Little Cayman has sustained due to Hurricane Rafael. Our first priority has been to focus on the safety and well-being of human life, and I commend the Department of Tourism and Cayman Airways for their efforts to ensure that residents and visitors are able to safely depart from the island.”

The Deputy Premier and Tourism Minister also gave an assurance of government support for businesses impacted by the hurricane on the island.

“I would like to also assure all residents, business owners and tourism stakeholders that my Ministry and the Government are fully committed to providing the necessary support and relief to our Sister Islands to help with recovery efforts.”

He said an assessment would be undertaken into the needs of the tourism sector, and recovery plans would be developed as needed to aid the residents, businesses and properties impacted.

“My priority, and that of my Ministry is to facilitate a swift return to normalcy.”

He also gave a commitment to meet with key stakeholders to ensure that “all efforts are aligned for the fastest possible recovery of Little Cayman’s tourism sector, to minimise further disruption to the tourism-dependent community.”