Archive for August 29th, 2008
Gustav slams Sister Islands
(CNS): As the outskirts of Hurricane Gustav slamed across the Sister Islands on Friday evening there were about 360 people already in the three Brac government shelters – the Aston Rutty Civic Centre, the Brac Day Care Centre and West End Primry School as the island lost power around 5pm. Over on Little Cayman13 people took refuge in the shelters.
An an additional 30 or so people were alos at the Seamen and Veterans’ Centre, which is an unofficial hurricane shelter, on the Brac, with more people arriving as storm force winds picked up across the island.
District Commissioner Ernie Scott told CNS around 2:00 pm that all was relative calm but that he was a little concerned about the level of complacency among residents. However, conditions were rapidly deteriorating at that time and the Brac was already experiencing tropical storm winds, and he thought people were beginning to take it more seriously.
In the Aston Rutty Medical Wing, Medical Officer in Charge Dr Srirangan Velusamy (left with Paramedic Vanderlinde Dilbert) said Faith Hospital had been closed and there were two hospital patients and two near term pregnant women in the Medical Wing of the Civic Centre. Eight clients from the Community Care Programme had also been transported to the shelter but they had decided not to evacuate the Kirkconnell Community Care Centre next to the hospital for Gustav.
A tree, weakened by a rotten core, had blown down on top of a car on the Bluff and taken the power line with it, and elsewhere there was some debris appearing on roads, as the Brac started to experience the effects of Gustav. (Left: people settle in for the night at the Aston Rutty).
On Little Cayman, Larry Foster the district officer reported that at 4:30 there were 13 people housed in the Government shelter there.
Stocks fall as incomes tumble
(AP): Stocks tumbled on Friday after the US government said personal incomes fell last month by the largest amount in nearly three years while consumer spending slowed. Meanwhile, investors charted the path of Tropical Storm Gustav as it headed toward the Gulf of Mexico and its oil rigs and refineries. Go to article.
Airport closes as Gustav approaches
In the wake of the departure of the last flight from Owen Roberts International Airport at 11.00 am the facility closed its doors today, (Friday, 28 August).at 12 noon. The airport will reopen only after a runway and facilities assessment is completed after Tropical Storm Gustav passes said Cayman Islands Airports Authority (CIAA) Senior Manager Airport Operations, Kerith McCoy. This will ensure that there is no damage and that equipment has not been compromised.
Tourists who wanted had already left, with the last group departing on Delta’s flight to Atlanta. Reports from the facility said that the nine tents erected on the grounds as the first point to deal with departing passengers went unused.
“We have been pleased by our level of preparedness. We were geared for the worst but things have worked out smoothly so far. I am especially thankful to Domino’s Pizza, Subway and Hungry Horse who had food on sale. I am also grateful to Massive for the tents and to Lions Productions for the public address system,” said Mc Coy.
CIAA CEO Fred Sambula also thanked everyone who helped – government, statutory authorities, airlines, volunteers, private sector and the media. “Everyone was very supportive, especially the CIAA staff, some of whom worked extremely long hours to accommodate additional flight schedules. I also thank our maintenance crew who will remain at the airport during the storm,” he said.
No curfew yet but police move Eastern operations
(CNS): Police said that with the anticipated arrival of Hurricane Gustav the Royal Cayman Islands Police Servicehas initiated its contingency plan. Given the current update on Gustav the Commissioner of Police David George said he is not considering asking the Governor Stuart Jack to authorize curfew at this stage. He said the situation will be continually monitored. However, Eastern district operations will be moved later this afternoon.
A decision has been made police said to move the police operations for the Eastern Districts from the Bodden Town Police Station to the Bodden Town Primary School.
In an effort to make this as smooth a transitions as possible for the community the telephone numbers for the respective stations will remain the same: Bodden Town 947 2220. East End 947 7411 and North Side 947 9411. Thhis will take effect from 5:00PM today.
The RCIPS stressed that people should not venture out during the storm and that they should stay at a suitable location for their own protection and to ensure they do not impede the emergency services.
If anyone is found on the streets breaking the law or committing anti social behavior the RCIP will act swiftly to deal with them. We will ensure the law is maintained. The people of all the Cayman Islands can rest assured that the RCIP will do everything it can to ensure their safety and well being. Officers will be deployed to assist those at shelter, venerable locations and in crime prevention and detection duties. Residents should remain aware of what is going by listen to public broadcasts.”We will endeavour to keep everyone as up-to-date as possible,” the service said.
Hazard Management Cayman Islands said residents should already be taking shelter. On Grand Cayman, other than essential service personnel, people should stay off the roads after 4:00 p.m. today (Friday, 28 August), for their own safety. Members of the public on all three islands should remain indoors until advised otherwise.
Oil men keep eyes on Gustav
(Market Watch) : As Tropical Storm Gustav set its sights on the Cayman Islands this morning, energy traders eyed its projected path toward the Gulf of Mexico. Oil companies, including Royal Dutch Shell began to evacuate hundreds of workers from the Gulf region, which produces about a quarter of U.S. crude. Go to article
Climate fight hit by economic slump
(Reuters): – The fight against global warming is in danger of being downgraded on more urgent fears over energy security, heightened by a Russian war with Georgia, and a global economic slowdown. Added to the mix — politicians are faced with a rising clamor of complaints from voters over record fuel bills, and racing gas and oil prices have sparked new interest in high-carbon coal as well as cleaner alternatives. Go to article
Price gougers will be prosecuted
(CNS): Anyone increasing prices for essential hurricane supplies and who is proven to have priced gouged in the run up to Gustav’s arrival will face the courts said the Leader of Government Business. “We are conscious of price gouging and we are depending on the proprietors and suppliers not to engage in it but if we have any concrete reports we are going to act on it,” he added.
“I still believe that the Caymanian community by and large knows better and I’m hopeful that we won’t have any serious reports. Once there is concrete evidence we will act accordingly,” he said.
Speaking at the media briefing on Thursday morning Kurt Tibbetts said that there is a price gauging law and there are penalties for those who break it and the public should report price gouging experiences to the police. He warned however, that people needed to provide evidence. He said that sometimes people were just upset by the prices and felt it should be cheaper but that is not necessarily price gouging and the law was not to be treated frivolously.
Cabinet members appeared on live television to update the public about government preparations for the anticipated arrival of Tropical Storm Gustav which is expected to be a at least a category one hurricane by the time it reaches the Cayman Islands on Friday (29 August) evening. The LoGB said fuel supplies were sufficient with more than forty days supply of gasoline with tankers expected on 9 September and that CUC had a twenty eight day supply of diesel with the supplier offering a reserve of one hundred days. He also said there was more than 82 days supply of aviation fuel.
Tibbetts said government would provide plywood to those in need of some assistance and that employers needed to give their employees the time they needed to prepare.
“I would like to take this opportunity to urge all residents of all three islands to take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that they are prepared for Gustav. As we all know, tropical weather systems can be somewhat unpredictable in their paths and their intensities, so we need to be vigilant and monitor the storm’s progress as it makes its way toward our islands,” he added.
Water to keep running
(CNS): The Water Authority said that due to the new projected path of Hurricane Gustav and the expected weather conditions reported in the 4pm Weather Advisory, the Water Authority isaid a decision had been made to leave the water supply on. Piped water supply will therefore continue as normal. All customers are urged to keep listening to the radio for updates from the Water Authority as well as to visit our website at www.waterauthority.ky.
Should the supply be distrupted as much notice as possible will be given but residents should ensure that sufficient water is stored The Authority hasurged customers to ensure they have adequate quantities of potable water and a sufficient supply of water for use to flush toilets in the event that there is an interruption in the supply of piped water.
“Water can be stored in buckets for non-potable use should piped water not be available. Inorder to conserve water, remember to only flush solid waste by pouring water in the tank,” it said. “In case you run out of non-potable water prior to restoration of piped water, be prepared to safely dispose of human wastes.”
Proper disposal of personal waste is very important in order to minimize public health hazards. Using basic materials, temporary suitable disposal may be accomplished by placing waste in a watertight plastic bag and securely closing the bag. Collect and store all such bags in a large sturdy garbage bag in a safe and restricted area until such time as it can be collected by DEH.
Flight Information for US Air & CAL
(CNS): US Airways flight 1124 for Friday, 29 August 29, will now depart Owen Roberts International Airport at 9:30 am. It was originally scheduled to depart at 2:15 pm but will now be departing early due to Hurricane Gustav. All customers are advised to be at the airport three hours prior to the new departure time toallow ample time for check-in and security clearance.
The Cayman Airways Ticket Office and Reservation departments will remain open tonight (Thursday) until 9:00pm. Website booking will be available anytime up until 3 hours prior to departure and is strongly encouraged as your easiest alternative to purchase.
Cayman Airways wishes to remind the public that our hurricane fare is currently in effect. For outbound flights to South Florida the one-way fare is US$250 (including taxes). Return flights from South Florida, booked prior to the passage of Gustav, for return dates through September 5 are one-way US$208.40 (including taxes).
All scheduled flights on Friday, 29 August have been cancelled and are replaced by the following flights:
Flight # Depart Arrive
3100 to Miami 5:00a 7:20a
3102 to Miami 5:15a 7:35a
3110 to Miami 5:30a 7:50a
3112 to Miami 5:45a 8:05a
3104 to Miami 9:20a 11:40a
3106 to Miami 9:35a 11:55a
3114 to Miami 9:50a 12:10a
3200 to Tampa 10:05a 12:45a
3113 from Miami 8:45a 9:05a
All scheduled flights on Saturday, August 30th have been cancelled.
Passengers wishing to purchase seats on these flights or change existing reservations are advised to contact their travel agent, the Cayman Airways ticket office or purchase online at www.caymanairways.com.
Change fees/penalties are being waived for all passengers travelling to or from any Cayman Airways gateway between August 26 – 31, 2008. For passengers who decide to cancel their reservations, a travel voucher for the full value of the ticket may be issued. This voucher must be issued before departure of original travel date and is valid for travel only on Cayman Airways for a year from the date of issuance.
Passengers are asked to ensure that all travel documents are in order, which include: visas, re-entry stamps and all other immigration requirements.
Cayman Airways strongly recommends the utilization of our web check-in service available on www.caymanairways.com. You are able to check-in at anytime within 24hrs of your flight’s scheduled departure. Early check-in is also available at Cayman Airways Headquarters (Cargo Counter) from 5:30pm-8:30pm.
Due to the uncertainty of the weather situation surrounding Hurricane Gustav, for the latest and most accurate flight information passengers are advised to check the Cayman Airways website at www.caymanairways.com or with the Cayman Airways Reservations Department at 949-2311.