Direct hit from Cat 2; affected excursions? Input from Locals?

[CP3o]

It looks like Grand Cayman is going to be hit hard by Paloma. I believe their building standards are better than many other areas so think they will be up and running quickly after the storm. The locals will be in our thoughts, hope they are all ok.

 

Does anyone have any idea how the turtle farm will fare? Or if the reef Atlantis subs uses might be expected to incur damage and have less fish to see on a post storm excursion there?

 

Thanks.

[runner15km]

To our friend Drew, be safe and hoping all turns out okay.

[bilx0424]

What will if GC can no longer be a port of call? What will Carnival do? I set to sail on the Conquest 12-14-08. Thanks! Megan

[poochierebelbear]

I sure hope GC isn't hit too hard because I am really looking forward to that port.

 

Megan, have you joined our roll call for Carnival Conquest 12/14/2008 cruise? If not, come join us http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=726801

 

Erica

[nolaAlive]

I don't think it was a direct hit.

 

"

Because Paloma has shifted to the east, Grand Cayman will not be affected by sustained hurricane-force winds. Maximum sustained winds are expected to be 65 mph, with gusts to 81 mph."

 

http://www.caymannetnews.com/breaknews-11323--1-1---.html

[poochierebelbear]

That's good news but I sure hate they are going through that. I am hardly ever up at night to watch the news and they usually don't mention too much about another storm unless it's headed for our area. I didnt even know a storm was out there.

[Pyro Tec]

I hope nothing bad happened out there, I am visiting Grand Cayman next week! :confused:

[wannuhcruise]

Just got a message from a friend of mine who lives on Grand Cayman...no major damage that she's aware of. She has a leak in the roof, but back in '04 their roof was ripped off by hurricane Ivan. This time they were hit by the outer bands of the hurricane that was more like category 1 winds. However, Cayman Brac got hit by the category 4 winds. No word on how things are there.

[nolaAlive]

On Cayman Brac and Little Cayman

http://www.caymannetnews.com/breaknews-11330--1-1---.html

 

The airport on Grand Cayman has reopened and things should be back to business as usual relatively quickly.

[drew sailbum]

There are very few signs of damage around Grand Cayman. Hurricane Paloma spared us the worst but unfortunately our Sister islands of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman took a direct hit.

 

Around GC there are a few trees down and some power lines were down. There was a LOT of rain with this storm and some associated flooding of low lying areas - but not from storm surge.

 

There should be little effect on the normal tourist activities and I expect cruise ships to be calling again very soon.

[dizneydawn]

Drew, glad Grand Cayman is doing well, sorry for your neighbors on the other two islands. Thank you for giving us such a quick update.

[laughing husky]

Received news from relative in the Caymans today. GCI did not fare too badly. Mostly up by the East End got the brunt of it....However, the Brac suffered >90% severe damage. Locals have cleared part of the runway so planes can arrive and leave, but it might be a long time for them to recover. Ironically it was on the anniversary of the deadly 1932 storm that killed many people....including 14 of my husbands relatives. If you google Cayman news you can easily find pictures. I understand that there are not many leaves left, and in a week things will be brown and stinky once the vegetation starts to rot.....but they will clear the tourists areas pretty fast. Aa Foster who lives in Alaska.....but whose heart will always be in Cayman

[rebeljohn]

My brother was booked on a scuba trip next week at Cayman Brac. He got a call today that the resort sustained a lot of damage, and his trip was cancelled. :o He has rebooked for the spring.