Cayman Islands braced for hurricane 'direct hit'

Hurricane Charley is expected to slam into the British Cayman Islands today after spinning away from Jamaica.

Charley packed maximum sustained winds of 75mph and was expected to strengthen, according to the US National Hurricane Centre in Miami. At 1am Irish time, the hurricane’s centre was located 195 miles east-south east of George Town, Grand Cayman, and it was moving west-north west at 17mph.

“It looks like it’s going to be a direct hit for the Cayman Islands,” said Krissy Williams, a meteorologist at the hurricane centre. The storm is expected to make landfall between 10am and 1pm British time.

A hurricane warning was in effect for both the Cayman Islands and Jamaica today. Charley was expected to remain a Category One hurricane, but maximum winds were forecast to increase to 85mph, Williams said.

Hundreds of passengers were stranded at Montego Bay’s Sangster International Airport – the country’s main airport for tourism – where 33 flights were cancelled or delayed.

Carnival Cruise Lines diverted three cruise ships with scheduled stops in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Royal Caribbean said two of its ships would also be diverted.

In Jamaica’s capital Kingston, residents stocked up on bottled water, bread, batteries, flashlights and canned food before the storm passed. Supermarkets began closing yesterday. Residents in the Cayman Islands did the same.

Cars clogged streets in Kingston as residents rushed to stores or tried to make it home.

The Cayman Islands is wealthier and better-prepared compared with Jamaica. Some tourists were concerned about the hurricane, but others took it in their stride.

“I’ve never been in a hurricane before,” said Susan Austin, a tourist from Las Vegas, staying at a hotel in Grand Cayman with a group of friends. “I’m kind of excited. I understand the rain goes horizontal. We’ve got chess, checkers, backgammon, dominos and cards. I think we’re good.”

Residents and businesses worked yesterday to put metal hurricane shutters over their doors and windows to prevent damage. Long lines formed at grocery stores in Grand Cayman and most other businesses closed early yesterday.

Sister islands Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, which have a combined population of 1,300, also began preparing for the storm.

Sixty guests at the 71-room Divi Tiara Beach Resort in Cayman Brac got on their hands and knees, filling sandbags to protect the hotel against storm surges and accompanying waves.