Any update on Hurricane Wilma and Jamaica?

The initial postings about Wilma are here.

We're moving the new postings on Wilma's effects into a new thread since the other one (listed above) is becoming very hard for us dialup users to access.

We have bad news about Great Bay. The water is up to people's waists in the road, there are dead livestock floating in the water, and people are being evacuated by boat to higher ground.

We do not have any specifics about people, property, or other areas. When we do, we will post it. If you have such information, please post it here.

Last night brought a lot of rain and really made things worse. The road below the police station has completely washed out (see pictures below), making it impassable except to a couple of 4 wheel drive vehicle.

P.J. (the prime minister) was on radio yesterday saying that immediate attention will be given to the roads leading to areas that are cut off. It was reported that the area's MP and a crisis management team from ODP is on its way. And they've been pretty good about putting marle into the road as a patch in the past, so hopefully things will get moving again.

(P.J.'s speech also said that school was closed all this week and a decision would be made today on when to open them.)

Pictures soon come.

-TBNet

OMG. I need to call my family.

Bad news:
This morning the water in the road in Billy's Bay was at the hood of a large 4 wheel drive, and the water in front of Kingfisher Plaza is higher now at noon than it was this morning.

Good news:
The sun is shining! The rain has stopped. The Wilma advisories from the weather office do not list Jamaica as getting lots of rain fall anymore, and the latest satellite pictures seem to show that we're out of the rain bands.

Best news:
No reports of any injuries or casualties

Pictures:

Weathering the storm


Great Pond


A new river


Frenchmans



Below police station



Thanks as usual to Rebecca for getting these pictures!

-TBNet

We're having problems uploading more pictures...will add when able.

But a big bus just came through from Crossroads way, so the road is becoming more passable.

-TBNet

Thank you Rebecca for all of the updates & photos.
Some friends are flooded out of their homes but are ok.

Rebecca; thanks for the update on Billy's Bay, we are very sorry to hear about the situation in Great Bay. Once again we appreciate your efforts, but in doing so please be careful.

These pictures were taken about 1pm Thursday

This is the road by Kingfisher, but what you are seeing is all Pond water.


The water is higher in this house today


And the Super Pond is higher now too.
Coot's House






All wash out


Coping


-TBNet

First I would like to thank Eric, our wonderful webmaster. It is so great having you back here in TB during this time helping me gather information and reporting it. Eric, you are the best!

Second, as for my trip to Kingston . . .well, after standing in the massive thunderstorm pumping up a flat tire with a bicycle pump, then starting off on the road, I didn't reach far. It had been raining very hard during the night(6 more inches in the washtub)the roads were absolutely flooded out. Just below the post office I was driving through 1 1/2 feet of water which was rushing across the road. About a 1/4 mile further, just below the Ward's house, the road became a roaring river. I had to pull off the road, secure the car, and wait it out stuck in the car for an hour. The rain subsided finally as daylight broke and thanks to my friend Ron who came by in his 4-wheel drive, I was able to turn the car around and follow him home.

We are hearing reports that the main highway to Kingston is also flooded at Ferry and there is a 4 - 5 hour backup of traffic going in or out of the city.

Great Pond is now across the road in Calabash Bay from Kingfisher Plaza to Blossom's. The water going into Billy's Bay has gone down and high vehicles can now pass. The same is true for in front of Sunset Resort and Charmaine's shop.

Transport in and out of TB is happening now with larger vehicles and should only improve with time as the residents are out in full force with pick axes and shovels working hard to make the road passable.

The pond waters are still thigh high in Great Bay on the road. Boats are transporting people to and from their houses. The main flooded out area is from Bev's house past Madgie's Shop, by Derrick & Jill's house and past the 7th Day Advent Church continuing past John's shop, Hopie's house and all houses behind them. Across the road Goldman's Bar and Michael & Liz's houses are also flooded out. My fabulous assistant Nickell Hill has just left with camera in hand to take photos of the area. We will have them for you tomorrow.

I have been talking with life long TB residents all day and no one ever remembers this massive flooding. Again, washtub tally, I figure we have gotten about 27 inches of rain since last Thursday. Previous to that we had had several days with rain as this is the rainy season, so the ground was already saturated.

As I have stated often before, the resilience of the Jamaican people is astounding. I have seen many people helping out the flooded out victims offering cement block to put furniture on, moving out furniture, offering food and shelter, fixing roads, etc. Thanks to everyone working together, we will get through once again.

Now we pray for those still in Wilma's path and I thank God my sister and brother-in-law got the last flight out of Cancun this morning!

Rebecca I don't think we can ever thank you enough,I click on this site every 1/2 to what's new.May god bless all of you my father is 76yrs old he said he has never seen this.

Rebecca, thank you yet again. Dying to see the photos! Hopie is a freind of mine. My husband is related to Goldman & Liz.

I hear Miss Ruby is also flooded. I hear this is a 1st.

Yes, the Jamaican people are truely amazing.

I'm glad your family got out of Cancun in time. Thanks for keeping me informed about mine.

I would just like to say thank you to TB.NET for all the information on the situation. it is very helpful!
it isnt a nice situation and i hope people will recover from this.

all my love xx JG

Thanks for the update on TB. How is Golden Sands holding up in the rain

looking forward anxiously to your intrepid reporters pictures of great bay, the area you describe as flooded out is that the part i would know as from austins shop down past myries shop? it is a flatland there with ponds on both sides of the road

The photos of Great Bay have been taken and will be posted within the next few hours.

I have not heard specifically if Miss Ruby was flooded out, but knowing where she lives, I would assume so.

Nige, you are correct, the area affected is from Austin's Shop down past Myrie's Shop.

The road to Station was repaired and opened up for all traffic by 7:00 last night.

The good news is we enjoyed looking at the moon and stars last night and woke up to sunshine today!!!

My God!!! I am sorry for all of the damage. I feel bad that I didn't check in with all of you earlier in the week. Please take care, my prayers are with you.
Wayne in Maryland

Thank God the sun is shining.

Thank god for Treasure beach.net Rebecca and Eric.

On a serious note the local government should ensure that some proper enginering work carried on the station Road. What is the point of using marl dust to to fill gullys, and then get surprised when we get a flood and it brings the road back to square one. Now is the time for Mr Patterson to go and see the roads and not fly over the ponds in a helicopter and go and have his big meals. While we can't even get out of Treasure beach if there is an emergency or to go and do some food shopping.
Mr Patterson when we have flood it means water will be settled in ponds, no need to go and see that alone upon your next visit please go and see the roads that repeats it self, even with a rain drop because of poor maintenance.
We would be very happy to see proper work being done to solve the problem.

Thank you

Wow. Thank you, Rebecca and Eric for keeping us all posted on what's going on.

How is the new TBWG building faring in all this? And how are Frank and Jeanne over at Ital Rest? Have they been evacuated?

And when you say "Coot's House" do you mean my friend Coot Parchment who runs that little bar on Frenchman's?

Thanks for continued updates.

Seth T.

I saw Jean and Frankie today/yesterday, so they are fine. I ~think~ the problem is more to the east of them.

More sunshine today. The sea is not as rough, at least by Calabash Bay. But it is still high and the waves are big big big.

Here's a pic I took this morning at about 6:30am.


-TBNet

Patterson should remember where he came from and try to help and fix the roads all over the country side.He was on television here in the states offering help to the people of New Orleans and that is a good thing,yet his own need help with the fixing of the roads all over his country and he has done nothing to help them.He should use New Orleans in the States as an example to see that mother nature is no respecture of no one and anything can happen to anyone,anywhere at anytime on this place call earth.

Help your brothers and sisters my dear Prime Minister. Show the people that you do care.

The following are photos Nickell Hill took for us yesterday afternoon in Great Bay. The situation is a very serious one as the 4 ponds which now have become one have no where to drain out. We now have to wait for the waters to recede. If we get any more significant rainfall, you can look for more houses to be flooded out. A proposal is in the works for a canal to be built to the sea allowing control of the water levels. This is a wonderful long term solution, but we need something done right now before worse disaster happens. Any suggestions? Seriously, we would love to hear constructive suggestions on what to do.











Notice the shiny new zinc on the roof which was replaced after Ivan tore his roof off.











More to come . . .

Thank you Rebecca & Nickell Hill.

My god it is horrible! Looks like New Orleans.

The government needs to get off it's butt and get the place pumped out.

I wonder how the likkle cottage at the back of Shakespear Cottage is. That pond went from dry to full in a few days back in July.

My husband and I have stayed there a couple of times and loved the privacy. They were getting ready to add on to it when I was last there.

Rebecca, thanks for the update. How is Bluntas holding out?

Who is the MP for St Elizabeth? Why can't he get off his butt and tour the district and see the damage first hand and try to get the roads fixed once and for all.I am talking up for TB because that is my home town. Others can speak up for theirs.Better yet vote him out and get someone who can get the job done for St Elizabeth in general.
It is a crying shame. I think the whole political arena needs an over-hall but in saying that I know it will be swapping dumplings for Johnny-cake.

Glasceta, I have not been able to get there as the road is impassable. The hilly parts of the roads have huge gouges in them making driving impossible. I hear the water is starting to recede just after Gerome's shop and tall vehicles are getting through. But then the water is too high in Bluntas on the road for vehicles to pass. I have not heard of any houses flooded out there, but that does not mean there aren't any. I just haven't heard. If anyone has info on this area, please share it.

Glasceta, we are thinking of you and your fellow Florida residents now as Wilma approaches. Stay safe!

thanks rebecca, and nickell yu de bes, tanks, mi kno say yu foot bottom shrivel up. this is the first time in my memory that all the ponds have come together like this, it really looks bad.
i try and stay out of politics, but i do have to agree with a previous poster that, PJ needs to spend more time on the ground in these small communities really finding out what is needed, and less time stepping out on mandela highway for photo shoots.

Thanks, Rebecca.

Here's my latest storm poem:

STORMS

Let the storm rage, my child
Let it rage;
Let the sea fling up its boisterous waves;
And let the winds, with rage and fury,
rip and uproot and toss.
But for a moment it will last
and MUST subside,
and you will find yourself in someone’s arms—
someone who only
can command the furious thing and say:
“You may go this far and no farther.”

~Glasceta Honeyghan, 2005~

Job 38:1-11

Just came out of Treasure Beach on Friday, Oct 21st to get to Mo Bay, thanks to the great driving skills of Sylvan. The drive out via Great Bay and Pedro Plains area was amazing. The road was okay in some spots and quite badly damaged in other areas until well past Black River and the Morass area.

The ocean all along the South Coast was extremely rough with waves crashing over the seawall and raod. Even coming in to Montego Bay along Doctor's Cave and the Hip Strip. Waves were crashing into the 2nd floor balcony at Margarittaville and over the road.

Please let us know what we can do to help people who've been flooded out and need assistance.

More sunshine today, and no rain yesterday except for a couple of really light mists.

The sea is still rough, rough though.

I should like to say a big thank you to TBNet for its informative update on the rather unfortunate situation in the Great Bay and Treasure Beach area.

Matters could have been much worse though, so let's thank God; atleast there has been no casualties. Moreover, the people are resilient and will bounce back in a matter of time.

More power to Rebecca and the TBNet crew. Hello to 'Ms. Norma' and the Sandy Bank Primary School community. Hi to Sylvan and the Honeyghan family.

Rebecca, is there any word or pictures on Flagaman, my home town?

Rebecca thanks so much for the info i appreciate it.
I was so good to see pictures of TBeach and yet so sad. I could not beleive my eyes.
Wonderful work by Nickell. It is so sad to see how
the road by the police station.
Rebecca keep up the good work.

Thank you Rebecca for posting the pics of Great Bay! My hubby there had been telling me all about it and kept wishing he had a camera. He just said to me this morning "Great Bay has a ferry now"!!
Thanks for being my eyes when I am not there!!

Great news! The sea is much calmer today. there are still some big waves, but not the huge crashers that have been beating us for a week.

Asvon, Flagaman is fine. The usual flash flood areas certainly received the flash floods, but as they are on a hill, no one is still flooded out. Unfortunately, all that water is now in Great Pond.

I am glad to hear the sea is finally calming down here. We have had about six days of very heavy and high seas. I am hearing that both Negril and Montego Bay also have received a beating along the coastline. Silvan reported having spray from a crashing wave come over the car in Belmont while driving to Mobay on Friday and Kevin said spray from a crashing wave came over his bus in Mobay at Marguaritaville and was reaching the second floor of Marguaritaville. I have also heard waves were crashing into the second floor of Rick's Cafe in Negril yesterday.

This has been one heck of a sleeper storm considering we were never even under tropical storm or hurricane watch. It has now been affecting the Yucatan for over 48 hours.

I read a report this morning stating Tropical Storm Alpha is expected to break up over the Dominican Republic today. Sorry for them, but we hope this is true as we are watching it's movement closely.

Hi, just want to post that the Genus Family in Great Bay is ok.

The houses nearer to the ponds (Donna's, Lucia's and Ellen's) are threatened, and the lane to Ital Rest is cut off, but family is ok and high and dry.

Ms.Mary's and Viking's House are high and dry and there is vehicle access through the field to the flooded, yet passable road junction at Kingfisher Plaza.

Power and water haven't been affected. Viking commented to me what a surprise it was to see JPS actually keeping the power going throughout this ordeal.

I'm glad to hear that the Genus family is ok. I hope the houses don't flood.

I am also suprised that you have current. Stay safe & dry.

I am glad to here that Viking's House is OK. My wife and I were going to stay with Viking and Stephanie last week, when we make the yearly visit to celebrate our wedding anniversary. I had a change in my schedule and we couldn't make the trip. Our prayers are with you all.
Wayne in Maryland

Any word on the Fort Charles area and Pon de Rock in particular?
Thanks!

Rebecca,thank you for the update in general and for the information on Flagaman in particular.Much appreciation and nuff, nuff respect. You are doing a tremendous job. TBNet is a major step up for all concerned;therefore I encourage you to keep up the good work.

Thank you Rebecca, Eric and Nickell Hill for reports and photos!!!. My neice is living in the area and I was concerned about her so I was checking your web site daily. Thank you for all your help and keep up the good work. I am coming to TB in January and I look forward to meeting you in person. Take care and God Bless all of you.

Truly we are blessed that no one died. Thanks Rebecca, we do appreciate your efforts.

News coverage of this hurricane (here in NYC) is driving me crazy. Everyone's talking only about Mexico and Florida ... as if the hurricane just appeared of out nowhere in the Yucatan. No one mentions that Jamaica was battered by Wilma for *days* ... I mention my concern about friends being flooded and no one even gets that Wilma hit Jamaica. It's so frustrating.

Thanks, TB.net for keeping all of us informed.

GG

Rebecca you are a God send...I appreciate all your efforts to keep us posted about this disaster in Great Bay. The pictures really brought home the magnititude of the situation.
After speaking to family meambers in Great Bay tonight I became very concern about the health consequences of the flood, with all the dead animals in the water, the over flow of the "pit toilets"...these are very good conditions for the breading of bacteria. Are any plans in the works for dealing with the health consequences? Is anyone ridding the pond of the animals and burning them? Since it seems that the flood waters will be in Great Bay for a while maybe the health concerns would be easier to address...
Great Bay is where my soul feels most at rest and I am so very sorry to see this happen to the people of my favorite place in the world. Do you think WHO would listen toa lone citizen like myself? I feel so helpless...I will continue to pray for you all.
Thanks again Rebecca and Eric for all your efforts.

Thanks to Rebecca and everyone who provided these pictures for us to see. I reside in USA grew in Bluntas and is very disturbing to see the conditions of Treasure Beach. We all know its mother nature but what are the higher authorities doing to restore the community. They should be a shame of themselves. Im grateful everybody is ok. My prayers go out to everyone. Big up Worlsey, Blackboy, Trudy, Kaye and the whole Treasure Beach crew. Keep the faith.

ROSIE:Back road from Fort Charles to Black River is impasable from Fort Charles beach on....everything in Fort Charles however is accessible, incl. Pon de Rock, from Calabash.

There are recent pictures of the damage in Great Bay here:
http://webtonic.info/discus/messages/1584/4423.html

(they were moved from here since this page is getting loooong)

-TBNet

Eric, thanks to you and Rebecca for all the news and pictures. We've certainly been thinking about you all. See you in December. Love, Mom and Lyle

So good to hear from you both and looking forward to seeing you in December. Bringing down some good jigsaw puzzles?