Old Harbour returns to normal after being spared hurricane's wrath

The southwestern St. Catherine geography was largely spared the violent wrath of one of the most powerful storms ever to form in the Caribbean. Despite this, residents have reported only minor damage to their properties.

While residents in the perennial flood-prone areas of Bushy Park, Nightingale Grove, Old Harbour Bay, and Bannister experienced flooding, the levels were lower than anticipated. Those affected who spoke with Old Harbour News expressed gratitude for what they described as a "small inconvenience”, especially when compared to the severe destruction and loss of life left by the hurricane in western Jamaica, particularly St. Elizabeth.

Located outside the hurricane's eyewall, southwest St Catherine’s population of over 60,000 avoided the storm's most ferocious 185 mph winds. By Wednesday, Tuesday's turbulent gusts were replaced by the sounds of recovery: the bang of hammers, the whir of power drills, and the hum of generators as locals began repairs.

“Only two pieces of zinc blew off my roof,” said Garfield Hudson of Narine Lane in Old Harbour Bay. “The dresser and mattress got wet, but that’s the least of it. We have life, so we are good.”

Following a tour of the Buddho enclave in Old Harbour Bay, Social Development Commission (SDC) officer for Old Harbour, Monica Douglas-Gardner, confirmed that affected residents reported "minor structural damages to their homes and furniture."

Data collected from this field exercise will be collated and shared with technocrats to form a detailed assessment report, guiding national aid efforts which have already begun for the most severely affected.

While western parishes may be without basic services for weeks or months ahead, power was restored yesterday to the Old Harbour town centre, Old Harbour Bay, and parts of Church Pen, Bannister, and Planters Hall. By late this evening more communities were back on the power grid, residents from Big Lane, Church Pen to Gutters, Spring Village, and Bushy Park informed Old Harbour News. 

Despite the return of electricity to some areas, water service has not yet been fully restored. The situation is expected to improve within days, as work crews from the Jamaica Public Service (JPS), Flow, and Digicel and the National Water Commission, have been working around the clock to repair damaged infrastructure.

Representatives from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security are also in the area collecting data on the impact of the storm and will be visiting other communities in the coming days. 

In the meantime, Douglas-Gardner said the SDC team have received reports of residents in the Ginger Ridge community having their roofs completely blown off. However, recovery efforts are being hampered by landslide and fallen trees blocking the roadway.