Miami, Florida, United States…[Libna Stevens/IAD]
Hurricane Ivan lashed at the Caribbean earlier this week, destroying everything in its path. The category five storm left Grenada in chaos, slammed Jamaica and parked itself over the Cayman Islands for over 15 hours. By the time Ivan left the Caribbean, it had claimed the lives of three Seventh-day Adventists, destroyed churches and schools and affected many church members’ homes.
In Jamaica, the hurricane’s pounding rains left one elderly church member dead in a generator-related accident, damaged the roofs and/or flooded more than 120 church buildings, closed the Adventist university for one week, and crippled electricity and communications throughout the island.
According to Leon B. Wellington, vice-president of the church in Inter-America, who toured the country September 17-19, the devastation to Jamaica was visible in every community.
“Some of our church buildings were partially demolished and have sustained flood damage,” says Wellington. Churches which were not affected are being used as shelters.
Northern Caribbean University, which has more than 5,000 students enrolled throughout its campuses, sustained damage to the chapel roof and preschool and left the institution without electricity for a week. Partial classes resumed on September 19 with the help of generators. Full classes are expected to resume soon.
Wellington says that in spite of the effects of Hurricane Ivan, the church is moving strong to provide relief and restore some normal life to its community members. In a country where one out of every twelve people is an Adventist, Wellington says “the majority of the churches are being used as registration centers for community members who need relief and counseling.” The churches, along with the efforts of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency in Jamaica, have been distributing water and food to victims. Church members are thankful for being spared a worse storm.
The Cayman Islands experienced Hurricane Ivan’s 160 mph wind gusts and downpour for over 15 hours on September 11, crushing church members homes and flooding the islands. Ten out of the eleven Adventist churches sustained damage. Fortunately, no deaths were reported among Seventh-day Adventists, according to Jeff Thompson, president of the church in Cayman Islands.
“Some homes were under 20 feet of water, where there was no elevation. People had to climb onto their roofs,” says Thompson, who’s home was not spared by the hurricane.
“I had to cut a hole in the ceiling of my home because water was waist high” says Thompson. He adds that his automobile was submerged in 8 feet of flood water. He is not alone. Every pastor’s house sustained damage and roads were submerged, which complicated efforts to reach church members.
However, Thompson met with all pastors last week for damage assessment and to organize efforts to provide generators for all churches.
Three churches were able to hold Sabbath services on Sept 18 from 9 to 11 a.m. and weekly evening services will resume after the island’s curfew is lifted. All churches will be holding Sabbath services on Sep. 25, according to Thompson.
The church headquarters in Georgetown in Grand Cayman sustained minimal roof damage, as well as the Adventist school there. Although most government schools will resume school in January, the Adventist school is expected to resume its regular schedule in mid October.
Pastor Thompson says a shipment of water, food and relief supplies is expected to arrive later this week from the Adventist church less affected in the neighboring island of Cayman Brac. ADRA efforts are underway to coordinate efforts to provide necessary items to the victims of the hurricane. Plans are also in place to repair church members’ homes as soon as electricity is restored.
Grenada, which was the worst hit earlier this month (see full story of September 14), is still with little running water and no electricity. The government is still keeping a curfew of 5:00 p.m. every evening, and the outlying villages are still difficult to reach because of debris.
The ADRA agencies in the Caribbean and Grenada have been engaged in a series of relief efforts to ensure that people receive the necessary water and food supplies. Relief efforts are continuing for the island.
Other islands in the Caribbean like Cuba have been affected by hurricanes Frances and Ivan during the past weeks, and more disaster struck Haiti yesterday by the flooding waters of Tropical Storm Jeanne, which pounded Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic, as well. The hurricane season does not officially end until late in November.
For more information on how to help the victims of the recent hurricanes in the territory of the Inter-America call 305.403.4700 go to www.adra.org.
