Fire service battles floods as rain continues

Rain pounds Grand Cayman

(CNS): As the Cayman Islands Fire Service continues to make headlines, as issues of succession planning and improving the management of the organization occupies politicians and the civil service, the fire crews themselves were hard at work this weekend tackling local flooding. Continued heavy rains caused more more problems on Friday evening, and between 6:45pm until 6.45 Saturday morning CIFS answered a dozen calls about flooding in Brinkley and Anthony drives, Smith Road, Lyndhurst Avenue and Jennifer Drive in Snug Harbour.

They were also called out to fire alarms at CIFEC on Walkers Road, Lakeside Apartments on Esterley Tibbetts Highway and Scotia Bank on Cardinal Avenue. In addition, crews were involved in an emergency medical call-out on Fidlers Way, a possible house fire on Fairbanks Road, a motor vehicle accident on Boilers Road and to a call of people trapped in an elevator on Hospital Road.

Ministry of Home Affairs Chief Officer Eric Bush commended the service for its rapid response in the “awful weather, especially when members of the public needed assistance because of the flooding. He said, “Our crews once again showed their mettle and selflessness in helping out their fellow man. To them, I say thank you.”

Homes across Grand Cayman, including in George Town and West Bay, were flooded Friday night as the deluge continued and the Red Cross shelter opened in response, though it is not clear how many families sought refuge at the site on Huldah Avenue.

On Monday weather forecasters warned of more heavy rains as the nearby surface trough continued to interact with an upper level trough over the western Caribbean. While the radar was down, the long-term forecast was for more rain throughout the week with heavy localized showers and gusty wind and rough seas around those showers and thunderstorms.

Afternoon forecast for June 8th 2015