Water rushes across the Yallahs Fording in St. Thomas, rendering it almost impassable. - Rudolph BrownNEGRIL
SEVERAL BUSINESSES in the resort town of Negril sustained millions of dollars in damage on Sunday, as storm surges associated with Hurricane Michelle brought towering waves crashing into their properties.
Sections of some hotels, restaurants, and bars were reduced to rubble as waves as high as forty feet rushed from the sea late Sunday afternoon and continued throughout the night. Businesses located on the West End, the cliff side of Negril, were the hardest hit.
The Rockhouse Hotel has closed down and relocated its guests following Sunday's devastation. General Manager Toni Foster told The Gleaner that waves that were too high to estimate swept through the property destroying everything in sight.
"I've never seen anything like this. The waves came up and took the pool bar. We have ten ocean edge villas, those are all destroyed," Ms. Foster said.
The waves gushed through a stone wall, which separated the hotel from the sea, and destroyed the ground floor of an eight-room studio block. The hotel's signature bridge, which has been featured in Jamaica Tourist Board advertisements and in travel magazines, was also destroyed. Twenty-five of the hotel's twenty-eight rooms were occupied at the time, including a wedding party. The guests are now being housed at other hotels in Negril. No-one was injured.
The Pickled Parrot Restaurant, also suffered extensive damage, which the owner, Michael Dolls, estimates to be worth about half a million dollars.
The property was not insured.
The waves also caused damage to a number of hotels and restaurants on the beach side. General manager of the Bar-B-Barn hotel, Angela Thompson said sections of the hotel were covered in knee-deep sand.
The West End main road was inaccessible on Sunday night into yesterday morning as it was blocked by debris brought in from the sea by the waves. The Negril police, assisted by a local contractor, cleared the road yesterday morning.
MONTEGO BAY
Rough seas caused by Hurricane Michelle, on Sunday destroyed two of Montego Bay's top waterfront entertainment venues.
Damage estimates for both Margueri-taville Sports Bar and Grill, located on Gloucester Avenue and Pier One, situated behind Howard Cooke Boulevard, run into millions of dollars. The management of both properties said it was too early to state specific costs.
The venues sustained major structural damage, which will require extensive repairs.
Pier One which is owned and operated by Robert Russell, suffered the worst damage, which according to his son, Robin Russell, will put it out of business for a few weeks.
Yesterday when The Gleaner visited the venue, the bar, upper deck and retaining wall had collapsed, while the dining room on the upper floor was partially destroyed.
The worst damage, Russell said, was sustained by the docks, where offices and store rooms were situated and the driveway, which was partially eroded and blocked by debris, which had also washed up on the venue's parking lot.
Margueritaville, which suffered significantly less damage, should be reopened, in part, in a day or two, entertainment manager Jerome Walker said.
"Most of the damage was sustained by the lower deck and night club, so we should be able to reopen the restaurant as soon as things calm down," he told The Gleaner.
PORTLAND
HOUSES LOST
Most residents are beginning to come to terms with the disaster caused by flood rains at communities in Portland.
Swift River, a community now made popular since the staging of the Portland Busso Festival, is in ruins, and as many as 13 houses have been washed away by flood waters.
"The demand here is extremely high, but there is little or no supply," said Councillor Beryl Aitkens. "Food, blankets along with mattresses are not being adequately distributed. I would welcome added efforts from the various emergency units for this intense situation to be alleviated."
The 13 houses washed away includes a seven-apartment concrete structure belonging to 70-year-old Iris Prince.
The communities of Shrewsbury, Fruitful Vale and sections of Claverty Cottage have had their electrical supply restored. At Claverty Cottage the roads are still blocked. Flood waters have hampered heavy equipment deployed to the area by the National Works Agency to clear them.
CLARENDON
RESIDENTS MAROONED
Sections of Clarendon were flooded up to yesterday, including Rocky Point, Portland Cottage, Lionel Town and Mitchell Town.
Councillor for the Rocky Point division at the Clarendon Parish Council, Winston Maragh told The Gleaner, yesterday morning, that several residents were marooned and were finding it difficult to leave or enter their homes.
HOUSE COLLAPSES IN RED BANK
Heavy rains caused minor flooding also occurred in Parrottee, Black River and Maggotty.
According to the Disaster Preparedness Co-ordinator for St. Elizabeth, Yvonne Morrison, one house collapsed on Sunday in the Red Bank area of the parish. She said the mother and four children who occupied the two apartment house are now staying with relatives in the community.
The Disaster Preparedness Co-ordinator added that all shelter managers in the parish have been put on alert to open the shelters in case of a severe flooding in the different communities.
ST. THOMAS
SCHOOLS CLOSED
The Seaforth Primary, Seaforth High, Cedar Valley Primary and Junior High, Lyssons Primary and St. Thomas Technical High remained closed yesterday after the flood rains caused them to suspend classes early on Friday.
Over the weekend residents of York were flooded out and for several hours the York main road was impassable and residents were marooned in Morant Bay until the water receded.
Motorists were warned not to cross the Hardley Crossing. The Yallahs fording was also impassable.
