I have been closely monitoring IKE and I unfortunately as I write I believe that IKE must have caused in Providenciales as many damages as Luis did to SXM in 1995.

Just before reaching there it has become a CAT 4 hurricane, with substantial floods and tidal surge associated to it. turks & Caicos were still recovering from the damages done by Hanna,

On the "slight" positive note the hit came from the northern part of IKE, in sailors term sometimes defined as the more "manageble" part of a hurricane, and the forward moving speed was about 15 nautical miles x hour(luis moved at around 3).

My thougts are sincerely with everybody living there.

Enzo, it's so good to hear from you.

There are reports 80% of the homes are damaged on Grand Turk.

Oh, I hope Gretchen aka greels, is ok! G, if you read this let us know what's happening!


Contessa

I heard 80% of houses on grand turk were damaged also
here are some up to date reports from turks and caicos
[stormcarib.com]

I checked on storm2k because Gretchen has been posting there but nothing from her this morning yet.
I think Provo..where she is.. did not have as much damage though.
also, Gretchen is a first responder.. She may be out on the job this morning.
I hope we hear from her soon.

I remember after Luis when it was just impossible to get through to st. maarten.
I am sure it is the same in Turks and caicos now.

BTW, this is an interesting page too with messages from people inquiring about conditions and loved ones.
[help.stormcarib.com]

[barcann.livejournal.com]

Barbara, I just read this posting on another site from Gretchen. Hopefully, they're fine!


Contessa



{Anon Ellie,

Thank you for your thoughts.

You would be interested to know that my husband, dog and I will be staying at the staff housing for Amanyara out on Mellenium Highway. That is secure housing and protected inland.

Over the past two years, I have become very close with many of the staff there who treat me like family.

They have opened their doors to my family where we will be safe.

Gretchen )

thanks
I am sure she is OK.. they just have a mess to deal with

[barcann.livejournal.com]

Hey!

Turk was hard hit and the poor folks in Cuba are sure to get beat up as well.

It's not only encouraging but VERY thoughtful of all here on GOBEACH to keep in touch with others and report on these events.......a CLASSY forum......THANKS!

Denis

Hi pauline I am well, thanks. what about you?

Ike is a serious hurricane, I think that in the Turks and Caicos they are still getting plenty of rain form the outer bands of the hurricane. I can only wonder how much destruction IKE may inflict to Cuba.

I went through 11 hurricanes while living in SXM, and believe me guys once you go trough one like Luis you will never ever forget, right Barbara?

the worst part of an hurricane of such intensity is to cope with the aftermath, when you have lost your house, your work, and most of what you have done in life till that point. It is an experience that marks you forever, and I think that after 13 years I have not fully overcome that experience yet.

Luis was definetely a CAT 4 hurricane when it landed in SXM, and cause of the hills it spun some mini-tornadoes that hit some small areas God knows at which wind speed. Do you remeber Ram's??

I do not want to get into politics, but how can the US government say 24hours before IKE would have hit Cuba " there will be no lift of the embargo on Cuba"???

Wait and see and if the damages are really extensive, as I suppose they will be, come forward to help the Cubans, not the Cuban government, and afterwards I think that those bureaucrats in Washington can smoke their supposed to be embargoed Cuban cigars with a little bit more of ease.