Daraine Luton, Staff Reporter
Janet Watson weeps in front of her house which was destroyed by Hurricane Dean in Newlands, Portmore, on Monday. Though the island escaped a direct hit from the Category Four hurricane, heavy winds downed trees and power poles and damaged a number of houses. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer
JAMAICANS TODAY awoke to scenes of destruction in the aftermath of Hurricane Dean, whose outer bands ploughed through southern parishes claiming one life and damaging the country's housing stock.
The police also reported two deaths but could not yet confirm they were related to the hurricane, while there were claims that an elderly man was killed in Golden Spring, St. Andrew, when a house collapsed last night.
The Category Four storm spared the nation the full extent of its wrath as its eye passed some 50 miles off the south coast after threatening a direct hit as it barrelled towards the island on the weekend.
State of emergency
Ronald Jackson, director general of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), told The Gleaner this morning that the eastern parish of St. Thomas was the hardest hit.
Communication with that parish, as well as St. Elizabeth in the west, has been hampered as telephone networks have gone down and blockages have rendered some roads impassable.
Meanwhile, reports of looting prompted Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller last night to advise that a state of public emergency had been declared for the island.
"We are all aware that Hurricane Dean has severely affected Jamaica where the safety of the public is likely to be endangered and the various communities within Jamaica may be deprived of supplies and services that are essential to life,"the Prime Minister said in a statement read by Huntley Medley, executive director of the Jamaica Information Service.
"We are also aware that during and after natural disasters there have been widespread attempts at looting and other threats to public safety."
Under the decree, the security forces are given wider powers to deal with criminal elements. The Government will review the state of emergency this afternoon when Simpson Miller meets with Cabinet.
This is the second time in three years that a state of public emergency has been announced. Just before the arrival of Hurricane Ivan in 2004, then Prime Minister P.J. Patterson declared a state of public emergency in light of the expected severity of that storm. At that time, then Opposition Leader Edward Seaga criticised the Prime Minister, arguing that the move was "a premature act that is taken in panic".
Similarly, Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Spokesman on Justice, Delroy Chuck, last night said he had not heard any reports to suggest a state of emergency was justified, but opted to wait until receiving further reports today before coming to any conclusions.
Reports out of Mandeville, Manchester, are that a man was killed when the vehicle he was travelling in was thrown against a utility pole by strong winds.
This morning, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Mark Shields said two bodies were found in Old Harbour, St. Catherine, but could not say whether they were casualties of the hurricane.
The hurricane's wind speed was measured at 63 miles per hour at the Meteorological Service of Jamaica at the Norman Manley International Airport before its equipment failed. There are unofficial reports of wind speeds reaching more that 100 miles per hour.
The storm, which headed further south, sparing the Cayman Islands, has been so far blamed for at least 11 deaths in the Eastern Caribbean .
The ODPEM said it was too early to estimate the impact of damage cause by the storm.
Jackson said this morning tha it was still early days, "it looks better than what we saw in Hurricane Ivan".
On the north coast, there were reports of limited damage in Trelawny, St. James, Westmoreland and Hanover.
Nineteen people died during Ivan in 2004, a powerful Category Four storm which, like Dean, did not make a direct hit on Jamaica. Eight of the casualties drowned in the flood-prone community of Portland Cottage in Clarendon, from where residents were ordered out when Dean threatened.
"We have seen more roof damage and fallen trees and less landslides and floodings," Jackson told The Gleaner.
Just over 5,000 persons sought refuge in approximately 231 shelters across the island.
Up to press time this morning, the ODPEM said it was trying to get information out of all 14 parishes but was experiencing glitches as communication lines had gone down.
Stephen Shaw, communications director at the National Works Agency, said his agency has not been able to make contact with most parishes. Shaw added, however, that many roadways in St. James, Hanover and Westmoreland have been affected.
Across the island, power lines were felled and utility poles crashed to the ground under the hurricane's fury. Many of the poles revealed a lack of maintenance as they were rotting at the base. Many trees were downed by the heavy rains and gusts peeled off roofs. Advertising billboards and signs and sections of buildings were flattened.
The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) was forced to turn off electricity.
Winsome Callum, corporate communications manager at the light and power company, said it could take "a couple of days" before power is restored in some areas.
"The JPS's first priority after the hurricane is to carry out damage assessment," the JPS said in a release. "The main focus must first be to identify and fix damage to our power plants and main transmission lines, because without these systems, customers cannot get electricity."
The JPS said once this phase of repair is completed, electricity will first be restored to the main lines that provide electricity to essential services such as hospitals, airports, communication systems, and water-supply facilities.
Meanwhile, Charles Buchanan, communications manager at the National Water Commission (NWC), said all ofthe 460 water-supply systems serving the island had been affected by either the absence of power, damage to infrastructure or high turbidity levels in the water caused by mud entering the water supply.
Buchanan said it was too early to assess the extent of damage to the system, but noted that essential areas such as hospitals and health centres would be given priority as the NWC does restoration work.
By mid-afternoon yesterday, many Jamaicans seemed to have heeded the hurricane warning and opted to stay indoors. However, others were up until the last minute trying to get a glimpse of the onslaught.
In the eastern end of the island, for example, numerous persons were seen watching tumultuous waves they beat against the shore.
The last time Jamaica had suffered a direct hit from a hurricane was September 1988 when Gilbert, a Category Three storm, ravaged the country. About 45 people were killed.
Gilbert was the most severe hurricane to hit Jamaica since Hurricane Charlie in 1951. It destroyed crops, buildings, houses and roads and even turned small aircraft into shambles.
In 2005 hurricanes Dennis and Emily lashed the island with winds and rainfall but neither was as catastrophic as Ivan.
Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, St. James, was scheduled to be opened commercially by noon Monday. However, the Norman Manley International Airport in the capital was not yet scheduled to be opened due to sand and debris on the only access route, the Palisadoes Road. Workers are trying to clear the roadway.
daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com
This Suzuki Swift motor car was washed on to this wall in Caribbean Terrace by storm surges caused by Hurricane Dean. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer
