Hurricane Georges Update

Sunday September 20, 1998
St. John's, Antigua.

Hurricane Georges furiously passed across the island of Antigua and left severe damage in its wake.

The ordeal started around 9 p.m. when the entire island was darkened due to electrical power cut. The winds started from the northeast and blasted until about 12:30 a.m. The winds were extremely strong and insistent and we were all frightened huddled in our houses. Many persons were in shelters and many more stayed with friends or relatives.

After the eye passed around 12:45 a.m., the winds came from the opposite direction with greater force. This time, the roofs, doors and windows, already weakened from the previous onslaught, came off, apart or opened. The rains came with the second winds and continued until midday the following day. At around 4:00 a.m., the ordeal was over, with only the rain as reminder of the frightful event that just occurred.

A drive around the island the next day revealed serious damage to houses, electrical posts, telephone lines, and trees. Hurricane Georges tore apart buildings, even some concrete structures, ripped up large trees, tore off many roofs, overturned smaller buildings, and left the island without electricity and water. Most of the island is still without electricity and water on Thursday 24. Georges left 2 dead and at least 2,000 homeless.

The southern and southwestern sections of the island were hardest hit. The villages of All Saints, Liberta, Old Road, Crabb Hill, Bolans, Jennings, and Five Islands received serious damages to houses. One church in All Saints was ripped apart and several homes in All Saints, Liberta and Crabb Hill were totally demolished. The Nelson's Dockyard was seriously damaged, including a popular location called the Dock: its entire top floor was floating a 100 yards away in the water.

In Crabb Hill, the main road was flooded with 2 feet of water and filled with about 5 feet of sand. The concrete retaining wall was broken and the road was damaged. The Darkwood Bar was almost totally destroyed and the road was covered with about 1 foot of sand and huge stones from the beach. Entire sections of houses on the hill side were strewn across the country side.

Many Government schools were damaged as was the College. Classes have been prosponed until further notice. Most Government workers have returned to work, but without electricity not much work can be done. The army has soldiers in the city of St. John's with strict orders to deal harshly with looters. By Thursday, September 24, electricity was restored to critical areas within and around the city of St. John's.

More news about Georges
Forecast path of Hurricane Georges

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