Hurricane Ivan

[drnick07]

Just to let everyone know, grenada and SGU are preparing for Hurricane Ivan. The busses are going to stop running at 6pm tonight. All of the supermarkets are closed or will be very soon. The wait in line at Real Value was said to be 1.5 hours. It was only 15 minutes at Food Fair. Excel plaza is boarded up. The school has told us to gather up important documents, a change of clothes, and be prepared to evacuate to the lecture halls. Afternoon classes were canceled as well as all of classes for tomorrow (to be rescheduled on saturday!). I've talked to some locals today, they say they haven't had anything like this in a very long time. I guess a hurricane passed through here back in the 1950's and leveled the island (don't quote me on that). I'll let you know how it all turns out. Atleast we're not in florida.

[stephew]

Marilyn nearly got us in 1995 but missed us. lets hope the same for you. all the best,

[amormehta]

Wow, I must say that this is kind of exciting, frightening, nerve-wracking, and interesting all at once. I'm in Vinnys and it looks like Ivan is bearing down on us and we're right directly in the middle of the path.

I have to evacuate to my friends place, I live right on the Atlantic Ocean. The waves just started picking up and I'd say are about 10 feet high now. The storm surge should come in by 6.00 am when the first winds of the storm begin. The eye of the storm should come by tomorrow noon. I just hope that everyone is safe and I hope that the island doesn't get too damaged and no one dies. But I'm preparing for the worst

The people seem so non-chalant about this hurricane, but its probably because the last big hurricane came about 50 years ago, so no one has much experience.

Lets just all pray that everyone is safe!

Good luck to you all!

-Amor

[zedpol]

Good luck from us in dominica,
We are breathing a sigh of relief up here as it looks like the hurricane stopped its north west movement long enough that it is going to mostly miss us.

Stay safe everyone.

peace

[drnick07]

Now Ivan is coming closer to us. When i started tracking it earlier today, there was only a 15% chance the eye would pass within 65 miles of us (hurricane force winds can be felt up to 70miles from the eye). Then it was 20%, then 30%, and now its 54%. Well i'm stocked up with water, clothes and food are packed, and maybe i might get some studying done tonight (1st round of exams is next week for 4th term, 1st unified for the 1st termers). We were worried about the 5th termers in vinnies, so thanks for the update.

[Jay]

The track of Ivan has definitely shifted straight west instead of the northwest movement earlier.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov

[docmo]

it has begun. trees fallin. im in the histo lab and the lights went out. this is bad. :(

[DROLBO]

Good luck with the hurricane, my family will be praying for everyone in its path. Let us all know if everything is ok when it is over.

[Silenthunder]

I'm in L1; power just went out.

still getting firefly signal though (my own router is out due to lack of powa)

some stuff just flew off the roof and banged into the chancellery across the street; eerie!!

hope everyone's doin' well, esp. the grand anse kids who had to be evac'd last night.

Cheers,

Silenthunder

[singer]

Silentthunder:

As a parent of a Ross student who reads all carib threads on valuemd I want to express my good thoughts to all of those students in the southern carribean who are in the path of Hurricane Ivan. My prayers are with all ofyou. This is just another storm in acheiving the goal that you all set: to become an MD.

Good lock to all of you

[robmd]

Well hope all is well, but if I was down there i would be getiing the hell out of there off the island. We just went threw both Charley and Frances and we are inland not on the coast. But my dad lives in Punta Gorda and I went down there and saw the destruction and I know that I would not stay. Well when you all dig out of the sand and the flooding put some pictures up on the internet

[FLK]

looks like grenada got nailed and from this pic, the northern eyewall passed right over the island

be safe I heard peak wind gust reported 116 mph.

http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/archdat/tropical_cyclones/tc04/ATL/09L.IVAN/ssmi/ir1km_bw/20040907.2215.goes12.x.ir1km_bw.09LIVAN.90kts-964mb-120N-610W.jpg

[bertc]

It seems that all communication has been cut from the island. My wife, who was evac'd to Bourne Hall, was supposed to get onto the Internet at the top of every hour for an update, and as of 4pm Grenada time I have not seen her online. The loss of communication seemed to coincide with the eye of the hurricane passing right through St. George's.

Last I heard, cell towers are down, phone lines are not working, water has been cut off, trees are blowing over, roofs are peeling off the tops of houses,... but they were apparently able to order food from the WinHop chinese restaurant. How? I'm not sure.

At least they finally closed the previously boarded-up windows in Bourne Hall they opened out of curiosity (and stupidity).

[anencephalic]

On behalf of the AUC ValueMD gang, our thoughts and prayers are with all of our friends and future colleagues in Grenada and SGU.

ALoha,

[FutureDoc2be]

Here's an article on Grenada and Ivan...

http://www.xposed.com/headline_news/53_ds_948381.aspx

We all hope everything is ok. From the sounds of it, you guys were hit hard…since I have many friends there; please let us know the situation. Take care all!

[JB79]

Hey just heard on CNN about IVAN hope everyone is ok there

[bertc]

The SGU website has a detailed update on the school's status. It scrolls at an agonizingly slow pace (esp. if you have loved ones at SGU) in a little window, so here is the update on one page for all you impatient people like me:

10:30 P.M. update.
We are pleased to report that a number of additional calls have been received by USL staff members from parents and friends of students since the last update. The most detailed information was just received from a phone call made successfully to a fourth term student who was on the True Blue campus. Chancellor ****** and the Director of Operations, John A Wilbur spoke to the student at length regarding his first-hand information of the situation at the University. The student and his roommates visited the major lecture halls and some other areas of the University to check the status of these buildings as well as other students that remained inside. They also spoke to other students who have started walking around the campus to assess the damages. Most importantly, the student reported to the Chancellor that he knew of no injuries to anyone on or off the campus. He did report, however, that there was extensive roof damage to many buildings as well as broken windows, all of which confirm the second hand reports we have received from parents. The Chancellor has asked that University Services personnel remain on duty overnight to insure that any further reports can be received and that this information be disseminated through this web site as quickly as possible.

------------------------------------------------------
8:45PM EDT Update
We are pleased to report that at approximately 8:15PM, two phone calls from parents were received by employees at University Services Ltd. The first caller stated that her daughter who is off campus said that she and her roommates indicated that they were well. The second caller, a father of a second term student called to state that his daughter was in her dorm room and although there was damage including broken glass, everyone seemed to be fine.
USL would like to disseminate any and all information that parents or friends of students obtain over next few hours, until we establish reliable communications to Grenada.
Please call (800) 899-6337 or (631) 665-8500 if you have any such information.
We would like to request that calls are not made to enquire as to any information since we will place all information on this web site as soon as we receive it. This will assist us in keeping all incoming phone lines clear.

------------------------------------------------------
Storm Update (5:00PM EDT, Tuesday, September 7, 2004)
From information we have been able to obtain from weather reporting services, the eye of Hurricane Ivan passed just south of Grenada at 4:00PM EDT. Tropical storm winds are expected to continue in Grenada until approximately 1:00AM EDT.

------------------------------------------------------
The Kingstown Medical College campus, in nearby St. Vincent, was relatively unaffected by the storm due to its distance from the eye of the storm.

[bertc]

Another updated message on SGU.edu:

SPECIAL STATEMENT FROM CHANCELLOR CHARLES R. ******
Hurricane Ivan passed through Grenada late yesterday (Tuesday, September 7, 2004) causing significant damage to many parts of the island. After speaking to students and administrators, I am pleased to announce that no reports of injuries have been made to students, faculty or staff at SGU. We will begin the process of reaching out to all off-campus students this morning. They will be asked to call parents and friends with phones provided by the university. The True Blue campus appears to have provided adequate shelter for all those who stayed during the storm although many buildings had roof and window damage. We will begin surveying all structures on campus in order to determine what repairs must be made before they can become operational again. We are preparing to activate an emergency generator as soon as we are able to get permission to safely do so. A number of students I spoke to asked when classes would resume. I feel we cannot make a definitive announcement until we have a better assessment of damages, etc. Therefore, classes will not resume until at least Monday, September 13th. This does not include the St. Vincent campus which has only minor damages reported as of last night.

[bertc]

Got a call this morning from my wife. Here is what I recall from the conversation:

1. The hurricane experience in Bourne Hall.
The noise was horribly deafening. The windows shattered, the doors shattered, glass and debris were flying everywhere. Students had to take cover and try to avoid getting hit or impaled by falling and flying chunks. One student was knocked unconscious but didn't seem to be seriously injured.

2. Campus has taken serious damage.
They are making phone calls using school telephones that are accesssible because campus admin facilities and buildings have been blown open. There has been no physical contact with school officials. Students are basically on their own. They have been exposed to the elements for 48 hours now with no relief in sight.

3. They're trying to stay alive.
They are now banding together to find food and supplies throughout the campus. There has been no relief from any sources so they the students as a group are taking their survival into their own hands.

4. The island is devastated.
They have heard of widespread destruction of buildings and looting going on right now. St. George's and much of the island is severely damaged and students fear for their safety.

[swarna]

everyone in sgu and grenada hang in there...our prayers would be answered...=)

[ducman]

Be safe and be strong... please take care of yourself and each other!

Warm wishes and support from your counterparts at Saba.

[stacy_de_lin]

I hope everyone is ok. From what it says in this article, it sounds like the devastation was terrible.


Hurricane Ivan Devastates Grenada

Sep 8, 9:05 AM (ET)

By LOREN BROWN

ST. GEORGE'S, Grenada (AP) - Hurricane Ivan made a direct hit on Grenada, killing at least three people as it turned concrete homes into piles of rubble and hurled the island's landmark red zinc roofs through the air.

The most powerful storm to hit the Caribbean in 10 years also damaged homes in Barbados, St. Lucia and St. Vincent, just days after Hurricane Frances rampaged through and went on to cause massive damage in Florida.

Ivan strengthened even as it was over Grenada on Tuesday, becoming a Category 4 storm and getting even more powerful as it headed across the Caribbean Sea on a projected route to bear down on Jamaica late Thursday.

"After Jamaica, it's probably going to hit somewhere in the U.S. unfortunately," said meteorologist Jennifer Pralgo of the Hurricane Center in Miami. "We're hoping it's not Florida again, but it's taking a fairly similar track to Charley at the moment."

Hurricane Charley killed 27 people in southwest Florida last month and caused an estimated $6.8 billion in insured damage.

Howling winds raged through the hilly streets of St. George's, Grenada's capital, on Tuesday trashing concrete homes, uprooting trees and utility poles, and knocking out telephone service and electricity. The islands were cut off from the rest of the world and transmission was halted from the Grenada Broadcast Network, whose building suffered major damage.

The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency based in Barbados said Wednesday three confirmed deaths were blamed on the storm but it had lost contact with Grenada's emergency officials before getting more details.

The emergency agency's office building, the 19th century Great House at Mount Wheldale in St. George's, "was destroyed" and officials were trying to relocate when they lost contact, officials said.

Several hundred people had been evacuated from low-lying areas of St. George's. ChevronTexaco said it evacuated nonessential staff from a natural gas well off Venezuela's Atlantic coast. Venezuela's government put the South American country's north coast on hurricane watch Tuesday night, and a hurricane warning was posted for the Dutch islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao.

"They (Grenadians) had about two hours of just hellacious winds ... took a really bad beating," meteorologist Hugh Cobb of the U.S. Hurricane Center in Miami told The Associated Press. "This is a very dangerous hurricane now."

Grenadian Prime Minister Keith ******** said his home has been flattened, Trinidadian leader Patrick Manning told reporters after a telephone conversation. Manning said ******** asked for help and promised to send Eastern Caribbean $3.7 million in food and other aid.

The Barbados emergency agency said it has been "flooded with calls and e-mail from anxious relatives" and was sending a team into St. George's Wednesday.

More than 1,000 people rushed to shelters in Grenada, made up of several islands with about 100,000 residents. It is best known for a 1983 U.S. invasion following a left-wing palace coup.

There also were unconfirmed reports that storm damage allowed prisoners to escape Grenada's crumbling and overcrowded 17th century prison, a zinc-roofed stone edifice on a hilltop. For more than 20 years the prison has held former Deputy Prime Minister Bernard Coard and 16 others convicted for killings in the coup.

Ivan's sustained winds were clocked at 120 mph as it raced through the Windward Islands. But it strengthened to 140 mph with gusts just over 160 mph.

Cobb said Ivan would be the first Category 4 storm to hit Caribbean islands since Hurricane Luis wrought havoc in 1990.

He said that if Ivan hit Jamaica, it could be more destructive than Hurricane Gilbert, which was only Category 3 when it devastated the island in 1988.

He said Ivan's heaviest rains, concentrated in its eastern sector, likely will sweep the southern peninsula of Haiti, the most impoverished country in the Western Hemisphere where deforestation and a proliferation of shacks make any excessive rain a deadly force. Heavy rains in May triggered floods that killed some 1,700 people and left 1,600 missing and presumed dead in Haiti and neighboring Dominican Republic.

At 8 a.m. EDT, Hurricane Ivan was centered about 190 miles east of Bonaire with the eye expected to pass north of the Dutch islands Wednesday afternoon. Hurricane-force winds extended up to 70 miles and tropical storm-force winds another 160 miles.

The Hurricane Center warned could cause storm flooding of 3-5 feet above normal tides with 5-7 inches of rain that could cause flash floods and mudslides.

Earlier Tuesday, Ivan damaged at least 176 homes in Barbados and left many residents without water and electricity, according to relief director Judy Thomas. The Atlantis Hotel and Ocean Spray Hotel, just outside Bridgetown, the capital, lost part of their roofs.

In neighboring St. Vincent and the Grenadines, about 600 people sought shelter, at least 45 houses were damaged and two-thirds of the country was without power, officials said.

Airports, schools, government offices and most private businesses were closed on affected islands.

Ivan became the fourth major hurricane of the season on Sunday, coming hard on the heels of Hurricane Frances, which killed at least two people in the Bahamas and 14 in the U.S. states of Florida and Georgia.

---

Associated Press writer Eric Nurse in Barbados contributed to this report.

---


http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040908/D84VG7B80.html

[Kielbasakid]

Got a call this morning from my wife. Here is what I recall from the conversation:

1. The hurricane experience in Bourne Hall.
The noise was horribly deafening. The windows shattered, the doors shattered, glass and debris were flying everywhere. Students had to take cover and try to avoid getting hit or impaled by falling and flying chunks. One student was knocked unconscious but didn't seem to be seriously injured.

2. Campus has taken serious damage.
They are making phone calls using school telephones that are accesssible because campus admin facilities and buildings have been blown open. There has been no physical contact with school officials. Students are basically on their own. They have been exposed to the elements for 48 hours now with no relief in sight.

3. They're trying to stay alive.
They are now banding together to find food and supplies throughout the campus. There has been no relief from any sources so they the students as a group are taking their survival into their own hands.

4. The island is devastated.
They have heard of widespread destruction of buildings and looting going on right now. St. George's and much of the island is severely damaged and students fear for their safety.

Steph-
Can you reach anyone at Bayshore to find out if conditions are as bad as this sounds? This doesn't agree with info on SGU's home page. I'm one worried mom.
Thanks

[zohair]

Hi,
Can someone please help us by providing contact information for anyone living off-campus from SGU? My fiance lives off-campus with 3 other girls, and we have no news at all from her since Tuesday noon.

Thanks much.

[bertc]

More updated information from the Associated Press:

The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency based in Barbados said there were three deaths in Grenada, but it had no details since losing contact with Grenadian emergency officials Tuesday night.

It said St. George's ``suffered incalculable damage'' and Grenada's emergency disaster office, at the 19th century Great House at Mount Wheldale, was destroyed. Grenada's airport also was damaged and an air charter company in Barbados said it was refused permission to fly in.

The Barbados agency said it was sending a relief team to Grenada and expected help from the British naval patrol boat HMS Richmond, which was deployed in the Caribbean.

St. George's main hospital also was damaged, the agency said, as were some shelters. ``The population in public shelters is 1,000 and climbing,'' the agency said.

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4481391,00.html

[stephew]

I got this contact from bay shore:

Steph,

www.stormcarib.com

is a good site. We have been handling calls all night (not many) but
now
students are also calling. CRM just posted a message on our website.

Nothing new on valuemd website, will keep looking

Take care,
---

In the event you get calls, we have scheduled people to be in the NY
office
all night to answer any parent/family calls, and we have posted this
info
on the web. About 4:00 PM Tuesday the eye hit Grenada and we have lost
contact, we were told ahead of time they were going to turn off power
to
prevent fires and damage. We know that some homes in the area
suffered
damages, one dorm had a roof collapse but no one was hurt. I am home
now
but I am heading in at 4:00 AM EDT to handle any calls. We expect the
problems to remain a day or two even after the storm passes, due to
power
outages. We will keep the web updated, give us a call if you need more
information.

[stephew]

as per my conversation with the bayshore.

1) the school will be chartering a flight into Grenada to bring in supplies that the chancellor is organizing.

2)some want to donate: if you do, contact 800 899-6337: debbie Beeman ext 246.

3) food and water ok for a few days (they're emptying University club).

4)SENIOR OFFICIALS AND RAs have been on campus the whole time. They were holed up just like students. Including the four of five Deans. The rumor that they got on the plane monday afternoon is not true (actually the word used in responce to my direct question about that is no publishable here) as per the school. Many students were with the faculty at the time.

5)There is wind and water damage to the campus buildings but the buildings are structurally sound via visual inspection. Engineers (probably from Trinidad) are being sent in to confirm. The majority of repairs it is anticipated, will involve window and roofing materials. University admin is "very pleased with how the structural buildings held up". One dorm did lose its roof. no one was hurt.

6)in spite of reports of looting, the contact the university has had with students suggests there has been none of this on campus. A liquor store off campus of course did have a robbery; glovers did open their doors to others but NOT UNDER THREAT. The word quoted to me was "there is real community spirit but people are nervous".

7)classes hope to be up and running monday.

8)the university is working with the US state department. A master list of students is being compiled and the US state department will confirm their safety.

9) the campus has opened available phone lines for students to call parents and notify family of safety. There are three phones so it will take a while. The students can call out; people shouldn't call in.

10) please call sgu as the phones were manned all night last night and probably tonight 1 800 899-6337- hit "zero".

11) unconfirmed report is 19 Grenadians lost their lives.

[Picard]

How about the US Embassy in Grenada/Barbados? Anyone contacted them to make them aware that there are many Americans on the island that need help? Perhaps they can assist in sending in supplies.

Let us know if there is anything we can do here to help.

P

[stephew]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WEATHER/09/08/hurrican.ivan.ap/index.html

[holoPRESencephalic]

To the Student Government Association of St. George's University,

On behalf of the Student Government Association of the American University of the Caribbean and the student body, we would like to extend any assistance we can provide to the student body of SGU.

We are currently working on soliciting clothing donations as well as school supplies from AUC students to send to Grenada should a decision be made for classes to continue or for students to remain on island.

We are anxiously awaiting news and our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.

Warmest Regards,

[father]

:!: To all parents and relatives of SGU students :!:

Please call US Department of State at (202)647-4384 OR (202)647-5088

and ask US Government to do everything necessary to protect and help our loved once in SGU. Especially I concern about looting and crime situation after this terrible hurricane.

Many of students in Grenada are US citizens and our government must do all in its power to protect them.

[Incognito]

To SGU's Students, their Family and Friends,

Hearing about the devastation in Grenada has been very upsetting and I can only imagine what a tough time it is right now for everyone and their relatives.

Thank God that the reports show everyone safe and sound. I would like to convey wishes of hope and prayer for a speedy resolution to the situation there, as a fellow Colleague, and on behalf of your comrades at Ross U.

Sincerely,
-Incog.

[roadie]

Just a quick note I thought I would pass along. I am a 4th year student in NY, and my sister is a 4th term student in Grenada. She called my family a little while ago, and from what she told us, all of the reports that have been posted here and by the school may not be entirely accurate. I will not elaborate now. Everyone should just keep those in Grenada in their prayers as it is a difficult time right now.

Roadie

[classic]

Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Please be safe and take care of one another and yourselves. Hang in there guys and gals.

[father]

The information provided by main office in NY completely contradict the information I've just received from my child and other students staing nearby (they called me using Land-to-Land phone)

School is completely deserted and all the time before, after and during hurricane they did not see anyone from school administration around. School office is talking about resuming classes on Monday, having school in very very bad shape. Number of students lost all their belongings and without any shelter for night, because they or lived off campus, or were evacuated from Grand Ants campus....

According to information I got from my child everybody on their own to survive. It's no help from school!!! NO FOOD or WATER were distributed.....

The best school officials can do is to EVACUATE EVERYBODY from Grenada ASAP for the period of time and resume classes after all repairs are completed.

I do belive to people on Tru Blue and see reasons why administration is trying to create illusion about situation on campus.... One of the reasons that on case of Emergency Evacuation school must pay all costs of evacuation.....

Please talk to your kids!..Get truthful information. It's become very serious.

[anencephalic]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WEATHER/09/08/hurrican.ivan.ap/index.html


Again, discrepancies between the sgu website and CNN news reports...our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Aloha,

[dad]

Father's posting above is extremely concerning and at odds with what I heard from Bay Shore; it is consistent however with the school administration's lack of communication with at least some students that I mentioned in another posting. There is unfortunately very little that we can do from afar. Hopefully the school will have the charter plane on the tarmac in Grenada tomorrow morning.

[Buzza]

I'm going to be starting in January and this news is a bit unsettling. I'm pulling for you guys. Stay safe and you'll make it through this.

[stephew]

this is the cnn report:

Ivan leaves at least 12 dead in Grenada
Hurricane strengthens as it heads for Jamaica
Wednesday, September 8, 2004 Posted: 10:15 PM EDT (0215 GMT)


An emergency team reviews the damage caused by Hurricane Ivan on St. Lucia Wednesday.
Image:






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ST. GEORGE'S, Grenada (AP) -- The most powerful hurricane to hit Grenada in nearly a decade killed at least 12 people, damaged 90 percent of its homes and destroyed a prison, leaving criminals on the loose, officials said Wednesday. U.S. students took precautions against looters.

Hurricane Ivan was expected to inflict more damage as its 140 mph winds churn through the Caribbean. The U.S. Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida, warned it could make direct hits on Jamaica, Cuba and the southern United States.

"We are terribly devastated ... It's beyond imagination," Prime Minister Keith ******** told his people and the world from aboard a British Royal Navy vessel that rushed to the rescue.

********, whose own home was flattened by Ivan, said 90 percent of homes on the island were damaged and he feared the death toll would rise.

"If you see the country today, it would be a surprise to anyone that we did not have more deaths than it appears at the moment," Grenada's Police Commissioner Roy Bedaau said in an interview with Voice of Barbados radio.

Students at St. George's University, which overlooks the Grenadian capital, hid under mattresses or in bathrooms. "The pipes were whistling, the doors were vibrating, gusts were coming underneath the window," said Sonya Lazarevic, a first-year students from New York.

"It looks like a landslide happened," said another student, Nicole Organ, 21, of Toronto "There are all these colors coming down the mountainside -- sheets of metal, pieces of shacks, roofs came off in layers."

She said that the danger didn't end with the winds. Organ said she wandered downtown later and saw bands of machete-wielding men looting a hardware store.

Lazarevic said the mostly American student body was arming with knives, sticks and pepper spray for fear that looters would move into areas near the school.

"We don't feel safe," she told The Associated Press by telephone.

Bedaau said every police station in the country had been damaged, hindering efforts to control the looting. He said other Caribbean countries were sending troops to help patrol.

Before slamming Grenada Tuesday evening with winds of more than 120 mph, Ivan pummeled Barbados and St. Vincent, damaging hundreds of homes and cutting utilities. Thousands of people there remained without electricity and water on Wednesday.

In Tobago, officials reported a 32-year-old pregnant woman died Tuesday when a 40-foot palm tree fell into her home, pinning her to her bed.

Details on the extent of the death and destruction in Grenada did not surface until Wednesday because the storm cut all communications with the island of 100,000 people.

U.N. spokesman Fred Eckhard said virtually every major building in St. George's, Grenada's once-quaint capital of English Georgian and French provincial buildings, has suffered structural damage. The United Nations is sending a disaster team, Eckhard said in New York City.

Elsewhere, Ivan pulverized concrete homes into piles of rubble and tore away hundreds of the island's landmark red zinc roofs.

The storm strengthened even as it hit Grenada, becoming a Category 4, and got even stronger Wednesday, packing sustained winds of 140 mph with higher gusts as it headed across the Caribbean Sea and passed north of the Dutch Caribbean islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao.

In Curacao, the government evacuated 300 residents.

High winds and heavy rains from Ivan flooded parts of Venezuela's north coast, but no injuries or major damage was reported from the South American nation.

Helicopter charter companies were busy Wednesday ferrying evacuated workers back to offshore oil drilling platforms there.

Ivan is expected to reach Jamaica by Friday morning or Saturday and then aim for Cuba, the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said.

"After Jamaica, it's probably going to hit somewhere in the U.S., unfortunately," meteorologist Jennifer Pralgo of the Hurricane Center said Wednesday. "We're hoping it's not Florida again, but it's taking a fairly similar track to Charley at the moment."

Hurricane Charley killed 27 people in southwest Florida last month and caused an estimated $6.8 billion in insured damage.

Ivan is an "extremely dangerous" storm, said Hugh Cobb of the Hurricane Center, adding this grim warning: "Whoever gets this, it's going to be bad."

Cobb said Ivan would be the first Category 4 storm to hit Caribbean islands since Hurricane Luis in 1995.

He said that if Ivan hit Jamaica, it could be more destructive than Hurricane Gilbert, which was only a Category 3 storm when it devastated the island in 1988.

In Grenada, emergency workers were having trouble reaching communities beyond roads blocked by uprooted utility poles.

******** confirmed that an unknown number of criminals were on the loose after the country's crumbling and overcrowded 17th century prison, a hilltop fortress in colonial days, was "completely devastated."

Eight inmates went to a public shelter in Grand Anse, just south of the capital, relating they escaped when winds ripped off the roof and caved in stone walls at Richmond Hill Prison. Others at the shelter said the prisoners stayed about two hours and then left.

It was unclear if escapees included former Deputy Prime Minister Bernard Coard and 16 others jailed for life since their convictions for killings during a Marxist palace coup in 1983.

At 5 p.m. EDT, Ivan's eye was about 95 miles north-northeast of Bonaire. Hurricane-force winds extended up to 70 miles and tropical storm-force winds another 160 miles. Ivan was moving west-northwest at 17 mph.

Haiti posted a hurricane watch for its southwestern peninsula and the Dominican southwest coast was under tropical storm watch. A hurricane warning remained in effect for Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao. Colombia's northeastern Guajira peninsula and Venezuela's north coast were under hurricane watch and tropical storm warning..

Ivan became the fourth major hurricane of the season Sunday, coming hard on the heels of Hurricane Frances, which killed two people in the Bahamas and 14 in Florida and Georgia.

[wolfvgang22]

Here's a link to MSNBC's article:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5927015/

It also differs a great deal from the SGU information being put out. I sincerely hope that SGU is right and the reporters are mistaken.
God bless

[stephew]

How to help...:
Red Cross - stipulate that your money be sent to Grenada [Unfortunately it seems that the Red Cross has not set up a Special Fund for Grenada, consider contributing to the Grenada Consulate General Relief Fund)
The Consulate General of Grenada has set up a disaster relief fund. See below
For New Yorkers who wants to offer any kind of help, they can carry any donations of anything to Square Deal shippers at Church Avenue and East 45th Street Brooklyn, in care of GM shipping

Relief operations for Grenada on Trinidad are being coordinated by The Trinidad and Tobago National Emergency Management Agency and the collection point is Shed #10, Port of Spain Docks, Port of Spain by Friday 2004 Sept. 10 at Noon.
For those of you in Toronto who want to send items to Grenada, Arlene Taylor is organizing a shipment of a container. E-mail: arlktaylor@yahoo.com
Know of any other relief efforts? E-mail gert@gobeach.com

- SITREP #4 - Hurricane Ivan impact on Grenada
From: CDERA Information Unit <pubinfo AT cdera.org>
Date: Thu, 9 Sep 2004 02:19:43 GMT

ISSUED BY: Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA)
DATE: September 8, 2004
TIME: 10 pm

SITUATION REPORT #4 - HURRICANE IVAN IMPACT ON GRENADA


The Event: Hurricane Ivan a Category 3 system with sustained winds of 115mph
impacted Grenada on Tuesday September 7, 2004 leaving a trail of damage. All
utilities were knocked out but limited communication has been restored with the
Emergency Operation Centre (EOC). Hurricane Ivan has cleared the island and is
now headed towards Jamaica where a hurricane watch is in effect. A CDERA team
is in Grenada providing EOC support.

The Prognosis: Weather conditions in Grenada normal.


THE SITUATION
Grenada
A CDERA team is on the ground in Grenada providing support to the stressed
Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) personnel and confirming priority needs.

Representatives from USAIDs Office for Foreign Disaster Assistance and the Pan
American Health Organisation are also on the ground.

A Rapid Needs Assessment Team (RNAT) comprising multi-discipline specialist
from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the Office for
Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA), International Federation of the Red
Cross, UNICEF, UNIFEM, PAHO, Environmental Unit of the OECS, and CARILEC.

The Caribbean Disaster Response Unit (CDRU) and CARILEC are deploying
restoration teams Thursday and Friday.

A vessel with relief supplies from the National Emergency Management Agency
(NEMA) of Trinidad and Tobago leaves Thursday for Grenada. NEMA is the CDERA
sub-regional focal point with responsibility for Grenada.

Four people are confirmed dead. CDERA has requested the names of the dead under
confidential cover so that it may provide negative responses to the hundreds of
calls that it has been receiving from the Grenadian Disaspora around the world.

Sixty people are hospitalized with injuries.

The British naval vessel HMS Richmond is assisting the Grenada Broadcasting
Network with establishing an emergency transmitter so that the Government may
communicate with the people. They also restored power to the Grenada General
Hospital and restocked it with medical supplies from its own stores.

Nine of every ten buildings are damaged or destroyed. Virtually every school
and church in the Capital St Georges as well as the police headquarters has
been destroyed. The only two buildings in reasonable condition are the Grenada
General Hospital and Government Headquarters.

There is no water, no electricity and very limited cell phone coverage. Only
some cell towers are functional.

Security situation is grave and the Regional Security System has deployed
security personnel.

All prisoners are on the loose.

Coast Guard has no search and rescue facilities.

EOC communication was re-established with the assistance of Grenadian amateur
radio operators.

The habour is open though a 300-foot vessel is lodged there. The airport runway
has been cleared but the control tower is not yet functional.

CDERA has been receiving numerous calls from around the world on the health and
welfare of residents and visitors to Grenada.


PRELIMINARY NEEDS ASSESSMENT
1. EOC operations require urgent strengthening
2. A distribution mechanism needs to be put in place to handle relief
supplies
3. Tents, cots, food, water, roofing material urgently required
4. Law and order needs to be maintained
5. Customs and immigration needs to be re-established at ports of entry
6. Air Traffic Control need to be re-established



ACTIONS IN SUPPORT OF GRENDA:

1. Deputy Coordinator of CDERA Audrey Mullings is support EOC operations
in St Georges

2. Other EOC expertise being flown in on Friday

3. The Caribbean Disaster Response Unit is being deployed. Advance
contingent arrived on island today.

4. The Regional Security System has deployed security personnel and is
providing another contingent to assist with internal security.

5. Trinidad and Tobago, the CDERA sub-regional focal point for Grenada is
mobilizing a vessel to deploy relief supplies tomorrow.

6. CARILEC restoration crews are being deployed

7. The Emergency Assistance Funds operated by CDERA, CDB, FirstCaribbean
International Bank have been activated.

8. CDERA opening an appeal account at FirstCaribbean International at
their 80 branches in 20 countries in the Caribbean to support deployment of the
response teams.

9. CDERA is coordinating with the International Federation of the Red
Cross information on the health and welfare of residents and visitors to
Grenada. This information is to be posted on at www.cdera.org


The CDERA CU continues to issue SITREPs on Hurricane Ivan which may be viewed
at www.cdera.org. The UN/OCHA Reliefweb service is also posting SITREPS at
www.reliefweb.int





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Update on boats in Grenada, SSB radio contact for cruisers seeking info

Date: Wed, 8 Sep 2004 22:10:06 EDT

Gert: received this email message from my husband Tom who is aboard our
boat Serendipity at Rodney Bay Marina, St. Lucia (he said the boats there
sustained no significant damage). I am in NY with our daughter, visiting
and will be returning to St. Lucia Tuesday. Tom's SSB call is w1dkb.
Other cruisers looking for news about fellow boaters and all our friends
on Grenada might be interested in his message, which follows:
"Just found out Gregg and Carol 'New Passages' are ok, he is passing
messages for others on airmail and sailmail (KI4CIU@winlink.org). Gary
and Sharon on 'Illusion' are OK but their boat is missing. Just talked
with Greg there are at the yacht club. The concrete dock is fine, the
building is trash ..minor damage on boat...two British war ships in the
area assisting (one is HMS Richman). He is becoming 'Radio Grenada'.
Winlink is setting up a special pmbo etc for him....Yahoo is ok. Clarks
Court is gone."
Our hearts go out to all our boating friends and the wonderful people of
Grenada. Nothing can destroy the spirit of this island, which has been
our home away from home the past two years. God bless... Karen Gray, s/y
Serendipity

[stephew]

please continue in one thread so we can all see the info.

http://www.valuemd.com/viewtopic.php?t=23935&start=15