SISTER ISLANDS DRAFT PRELIMINARY DAMAGE ASSESSMENT REPORT HURRICANE GUSTAV Daft Report Revision 1 September 3, 2008 1
INTRODUCTION: Hurricane Gustav affected Cayman Brac and Little Cayman on the 29 th - 30 th August, 2008. There were no casualties; but two persons sustained minor injuries in Little Cayman and were treated by medical personnel. However, there is widespread property damage, most of which is considered minor to moderate. Major property damage and/or total loss is limited to boat docks. Fallen trees and other debris has littered about 75% of both Islands. The eye of Gustav passed to the South and West of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman as a Category 1 Hurricane. Wind and rainfall data are summarized as follows: Sustained Winds: Gusting To: Total Rainfall: Cayman Brac: Est. 85 MPH Est. 95 MPH Est. 7 Little Cayman: Est. 90 MPH Est. 105 MPH Est. 8 BASIS OF DAMAGE ASSESSMENT: The purpose of this preliminary damage assessment is to provide government with an initial overview of the magnitude of the damage caused by hurricane Gustav. Available members of the Shelter Assessment, Transportation, Utilities, Communications, and Damage Evaluation Committee commenced house to house damage evaluation on Monday, 1 st September 2008. Damage evaluation was completed on 3 rd. September, 2008. An aerial survey of both Islands was also conducted with the aid of the Royal Navy Helicopter from HMS Iron Duke. FINDINGS Cayman Brac: Damage to Public Roads: Minor damage Rocks, fallen trees and other debris along much of the southcoast road. Damage to Government Buildings/Facilities: Minor damage Public Beach: shingle loss off toilet block & minor shingle loss from cabanas fallen trees and debris Sister Islands Affordable Housing: minor loss of capping shingles fallen trees and debris District Administration Building: minor damage caused to roof due to railing being blown over on roof fallen trees and debris. Damage to Commercial Buildings: Minor damage Siding was blown from small sections of two (2) structures. Guttering was removed or bent from three (3) structures. Downspouts were removed from two (2) structures. Shingles were blown off and/or uplifted from two (2) structures. Capping was damaged and/or removed at two (2) structures. Daft Report Revision 1 September 3, 2008 2
Soffits were removed or hanging from three (3) structures. A few structures received varying degrees of internal water damage due to water ingress. Metal roof panels were removed or uplifted at one (1) structure. Fallen trees, rocks and/or other debris at all properties. Damage to Resorts & Condominiums: Minor to moderate damage Siding was blown from small sections of three (3) structures. Guttering was removed or bent from ten (10) structures. Downspouts were removed from ten (10) structures. Shingles were blown off and/or uplifted from three (3) structures. Capping was damaged and/or removed at ten (10) structures. Roof tiles were removed from three (3) structures. Soffits were removed or hanging from five (5) structures. Several structures received varying degrees of internal water damage due to water ingress. Metal roof panels were removed or uplifted at four (4) structures. Rocks, fallen trees and other debris at all properties. Damage to Housing (single family dwellings): Minor to moderate damage The Committee observed varying degrees of damage to fifty three (53) residential structures. Siding was blown from small sections of six (6) structures. Guttering was removed or bent from ten (10) structures. Downspouts were removed from four (4) structures. Shingles were blown off and/or uplifted from thirteen (13) structures. Capping was damaged and/or removed at eight (8) structures. Soffits were removed or hanging from three (5) structures. Several structures received varying degrees of internal water damage due to water ingress. Metal roof panels were removed or uplifted at two (2) structures. Fallen trees, rocks and/or other debris at most properties. Damage to Ramps & Jetties (Private property): Major damage to total loss Two (2) docks received significant damage Two (2) docks were totally destroyed Damage to Boats: Minor damage to total loss Two (2) boats received minor damage after being beached. One (1) boat was totally destroyed after sinking and being ripped apart. FINDINGS Little Cayman: Damage to Public Roads: Significant damage to three sections of Guy Banks road on the south coast. Fallen trees, rocks and/or other debris along much of the south-coast road. Damage to Government Buildings/Facilities: Minor damage to total loss Daft Report Revision 1 September 3, 2008 3
P.W.D. Garage sustained significant damage to one of roll-up door and another is completely destroyed. School sustained minor water damage from a roof leak and minor damage to its entry gate. Blossom village boat ramp sustained major erosion on both ends. Blossom village fish shed sustained major erosion causing floor slab to collapse & is considered unrepairable. Boardwalk at Tarpon Lake sustained significant damage from fallen trees and flooding. Fallen trees, rocks and/or other debris at all properties. Damage to Commercial Buildings: Minor to moderate damage Siding was blown from small sections of three (3) structures. Guttering was removed or bent from three (3) structures. Downspouts were removed from three (3) structures. Shingles were blown off and/or uplifted from two (2) structures. Capping was damaged and/or removed at two (2) structures. Soffits were removed or hanging from three (3) structures. Several structures received varying degrees of internal water damage due to water ingress. Metal roof panels were removed or uplifted at one (1) structure. Fallen trees, rocks and/or other debris at all locations. Damage to Resorts & Condominiums: Minor to moderate damage Siding was blown from large sections of three (3) structures. Guttering was removed or bent from ten (10) structures. Downspouts were removed from ten (10) structures. Shingles were blown off and/or uplifted from five (5) structures. Capping was damaged and/or removed at ten (10) structures. Roof tiles were removed from three (3) structures. Soffits were removed or hanging from eight (8) structures. Several structures received varying degrees of internal water damage due to water ingress. Metal roof panels were removed or uplifted at five (5) structures. Rocks, fallen trees and other debris at all locations. Damage to Housing (single family dwellings): Minor to moderate damage The Committee observed varying degrees of damage to thirty (30) residential structures. Siding was blown from small sections of five (5) structures. Guttering was removed or bent from thirteen (13) structures. Downspouts were removed from eight (8) structures. Shingles were blown off and/or uplifted from ten (10) structures. Capping was damaged and/or removed at nine (9) structures. Soffits were removed or hanging from eight (8) structures. Several structures received varying degrees of internal water damage due to water ingress. Metal roof panels were removed or uplifted at five (5) structures. Damage to Ramps & Jetties (Private property): Major damage to total loss Five (5) docks received significant damage Four (4) docks were totally destroyed Damage to Boats: Minor damage to total loss Daft Report Revision 1 September 3, 2008 4
Four (4) boats received minor damage after being beached. One (1) boat received major damage after being submerged. GENERAL: Cayman Brac & Little Cayman Damage to Port Authority Docks: Cayman Brac - Creek Dock: No damage reported Little Cayman - Salt Rocks Dock: No damage reported Damage to Airports/Runways: Cayman Brac Gerrard Smith Airport Shed in fueling area blown down. Little Cayman Edward Bodden Fire Station /Airport Terminal suffered loss of roll-roofing and tar-paper from covered parking for the fire truck. Damage to government s communications network: Minor damage to wires/cables at the radio tower in Little Cayman reported. Estimated repair cost not yet available but believed to be reasonably low based on information available. Damage to Cable & Wireless plant and distribution network: Some damage to distribution lines due to a large number of downed utility poles. Also a number of drop wires down. Estimated recovery cost not yet available from C&W management. Damage to Cayman Brac Power & Light Co. plant & distribution network: Cayman Brac: Power was out during the hurricane due to downed poles and damaged distribution lines, but power was about 90% restored within 48 hours following. Preliminary information suggests that there were 8-10 downed poles. Details, including recovery cost, not yet available from CBP&L. Little Cayman: Power was out during the hurricane due to downed poles and damaged distribution lines, but power was about 50% restored within 48 hours following. Preliminary information suggests that there were 20-25 downed poles. Details, including recovery cost, not yet available from CBP&L. Damage to Texaco fuel depot/storage: No damage reported. Other: The Committee observed considerable damage from uprooted trees. A significant number of man-hours and PWD equipment was used to remove these trees as soon as the storm passed, particularly along the road corridors and public properties. In several instances, the instability of these trees caused immediate Daft Report Revision 1 September 3, 2008 5
SUMMARY: threat to nearby structures. Two full time road crews are being used to clear uprooted trees and other debris. This will take until the end of next week to complete. The Committee observed that buildings with shingle roofs received the most damage. Observation of the materials blown away from structures often indicated that these materials were improperly installed. The Committee feels that vinyl soffits may not be strong enough to withstand high winds. These soffits either need to be strengthened or replaced with stronger materials. Once these soffits are damaged or removed, wind and rain easily get under the roofing material and into the buildings. This evaluation team also recognizes the outstanding efforts of the Sister Islands Emergency Committee, Chaired by the District Commissioner, and, its sub-committees in preparing the Sister Islands for the impact of Hurricane Gustav. However, it is strongly recommended that we continue to build our capacity to even better manage emergencies and disasters in the future. Committee Members participating in this evaluation (with oversight by the District Commissioner/Chairman SIEC): Noli Cruz (PWD, Chairman) Justin Bodden (PWD) Andrea Stevens-Grice (DCB) John Elliot (DCB) Mike Nye (Red Cross) Daft Report Revision 1 September 3, 2008 6