November 19, 2008 – Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands…[Nigel Coke/IAD]
A category four, Hurricane Paloma with 140 mph winds pounded over Cayman Brac on Nov. 8, after passing southeast of Grand Cayman an hour earlier as a Tropical Storm. The hurricane destroyed homes, business and churches. There was no reported loss of lives.
The two Seventh-day Adventist Churches on Cayman Brac were hit hard, local church leaders said after initial assessment. The Creek Seventh-day Adventist Church's roof was damaged and all contents inside were damaged as well. According to church leaders, most of the nearly 100 members on the island suffered loss or major damage to their homes.
Pastor Eric D. Clarke, Pastor Reinaldo Dracket, president of the church in the Cayman Islands visited Cayman Brac along with representatives of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Cayman to assess the damage of church properties, the needs of the community and to visit church members.
ADRA has been playing a major role in the recovery process and has been working closely with the government of the Cayman Islands, church leaders said. In the immediate aftermath of the Hurricane Paloma, the government asked ADRA and the Red Cross to coordinate the distribution of assistance for Cayman Brac.
The Cayman Islands Conference, which comprises the islands of Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, has more than 3,800 Seventh-day Adventists worshipping in 15 churches.
