Rapid assessment finds little damage from Delta
(CNS): Following the passage of Hurricane Delta, teams from planning and public works undertook a rapid damage assessment on Tuesday to ensure that there were no serious impacts from the storm. Damage to housing stock turned out to be minimal, with no significant flooding inland. The dozen teams that quickly evaluated damage to government and other buildings and facilities in each district of Grand Cayman found just a few areas where waves impacted the coastal shoreline.
With the exception of a few missing roof tiles some, fallen trees, and some minor flooding, officials said there really wasn’t much to report by way of noticeable damage in the Preliminary Assessment. There are a few public docks that sustained some damage and the public works department will be addressing those.
But the exercise helped to demonstrate that Cayman is increasingly well-prepared for more serious disasters as it adapts and improves its response. Hazard Management Cayman Islands Director Danielle Coleman said the unit had recently trained teams from the Department of Planning, Public Works Department and members of the Community Emergency Response Teams located in every district in the use of the ArcGIS geographical information systems software purchased by HMCI last year.
This technology coupled with mobile phones allowed team members at the National Emergency Operations Centre to view information on an electronic map of the island, as it was being entered by the teams.
“Going forwards it is our intention to deploy community responders alongside our trained assessors to help provide comprehensive live updates, that will enable decision-makers back at the National Emergency Operations Centre to act based on an optimal understanding of how a disaster has impacted the community,” Coleman said.
The planning and PWD teams are part of the Damage and Economic Assessment Emergency Support Team, within the NEOC’s infrastructure cluster. Their submissions will feed into any assessment of the economic impact of Hurricane Delta, which would be produced by the Economics and Statistics Office, which is also part of the infrastructure cluster.
Anyone who wants to report damage to structures should contact HMCI at Mark.Codling@gov.ky or call 945-4624.
Information on severe weather preparedness is available here.
Category: Local News
Also, fish do indeed fart underwater.
“a few missing roof tiles, some fallen trees”. A reminder that even ‘just’ a tropical storm can still cause damage for individuals if it hits us straight on. (Never mind the just demonstrated possibility of rapid evolution from Tropical Wave to Tropical Storm to Major Hurricane.)
Good result from a good ‘light’ test of the after-event assessment system. That’s good to know.
Seven mile beach, the most valuable feature of the Cayman Islands, has been entirely washed out south of what was Royal Palms. The lifetime value of Seven Mile Beach doesn’t even register or get a mention from these “professionals”. Sea walls that should never have been approved have exacerbated the sand loss. Dart’s illegal beach patio is now well below high water mark, blocking pedestrian access and should be removed.
Check out Rackhams, the bar next to the old fish market, the fish market and Thompsons Purple Piss Pot. All significantly affected by the storm. Yet other older properties on north church street that did not abuse sea setbacks were ok. There is a message there to the CPA. You have messed up.
Mr Thompson whose application to fill in the sea behind his building was actually declined two weeks ago by the CPA, the first intelligent decision they have made with regard to the property. Guess what on Friday his lawyer appealed this decision.
Ironically the storm uncovered previous dumping of material in the sea. No doubt CNS will show the photograph in due course.
My point is this continual abuse of our planning laws must stop.
CIG do you get the message?
Cornonavirus has done more damage to 7 Mile beach than a few waves. Check back this time next year , to see how it has faired.
Could have just called me and saved themselves a million dollars
World Class!! And I am serious.
Bless their hearts