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Some countries in the Caribbean have been lashed by several storms in what is turning out to be a busy Atlantic Hurricane season. Denuded Haiti has been the worst hit after a series of storms left hundreds dead and tens of thousands homeless. While many other parts of the Caribbean remain shocked at the level of devastation in Haiti, the pictures have triggered memories of the worst that Mother Nature can do. BBC Caribbean invites you to share your memories of past hurricane seasons, how you survived, and the lessons you've learnt. YOUR COMMENTS I am very young person and I don't have any hurricane experience that stands out but Ivan came about two or so years ago and badly damaged our main crop banana. I was in the house hiding in a corner and I was so scared. Just that experience makes me take all hurricanes as a threat. My worst hurricane experience would have been Hurricane Hugo, Sept 18-19 1989 and Hurricanes Luis and Marilyn in 1995. I remember it like it was yesterday. Hugo brought with it a vengeance that was non-stopping. It grappled through the islands with force. The calm before the storm is really a true saying. For it was a beautiful day till around 5pm when it seemed like a tornado was coming. The news had reported that Hugo had reached hurricane force strength. At that point I thought the worst for us and especially St. Thomas. No one slept, just peered to the radio as if listening to an all important game or episode of some sort. ZBVI had stated, while we were in the midst of eating some pork and beans that Hugo was on the predicted path, to pass directly over St. Croix and then hit the north east coast of Puerto Rico. I remember hearing the hurricane centre relaying a message from St Thomas that is property wasn’t secured already just secure life. I was terrified at that. Power was reported gone in Antigua. It was like all the Caribbean was falling into one dark hole and the hurricane hadn’t even started yet. I still had a bit of hope. And then it happened. Governor Farrelly at the time had imposed a curfew; buildings in St. Croix were reported to have fallen. I think I would have fallen asleep or the radio would have gone off, but when I did hear next was all communications in St. Thomas were down. More than 30% of buildings were damaged. National Guard were afraid to go out and search or give aid for they feared the worst. Hugo was right on Culebra. The eye had moved to the water and the sun was out. But the drama was the next couple days when we were finally allowed to enter to give aid to our families. The trip was like going to a funeral. The sea was dirty, but as we got closer to Charlotte Amalie, it resembled a graveyard. The hills had blue shining everywhere (tarpaulins). Boats and yachts were piled high on top each other at the harbours, Red hook was the worst, and I don’t think one boat there survived. Man it was horrible and the smell, it was pungent. WAPA and Vitelco were trying their best to get the power and phone, but man I don’t think it was even humanly possible to clear up all the mess. By time we got to my aunt’s the ice had already melted. Buildings upon buildings had no roof, the hospital the Customs building was ripped apart like a tin can. Ferry boats up turned. I think that storm meant business, and I respected hurricanes since then. Stay inside and eat as much as you can. My most memorable experience would have to be Gilbert which hit Jamaica on September 12 1988 which makes Friday the 20th anniversary. I was only a child at the time so I remember the excitement I felt at the thought of my first hurricane. Of course we were badly hit - trees falling, losing electricity and water for weeks and what many people will remember, the corned beef and other tinned foods they survived on during that period. My house leaked at every corner and the howling of the wind was frightening. I heard wind like that again during Tropical Storm Gustav. Thank God the water only came in beneath my doors this time. The amount of rain that fell though, I think stunned a lot of people, including myself. 1979…Hurricane David in Dominica...I had never heard wind howl like this in my life…I have no fear of rain and floods but wind scares me so. Last year I left Dominica a few days before Hurricane Dean struck the island however, my son and other family members were still there. Thank God for the internet. I stayed tuned into DBS for the whole time and via text on my mobile was able to update one of my cousins who had no electricity. Without this communication link I would have been going crazy with worry. My country has been fortunate enough over the past couple years to be spared of the trauma of hurricanes. I have seen the substantial damage done to Cuba, Haiti and the others and all I can do is pray that they are strong enough to get through this natural disaster. I always get worried when this season comes around because the weather tends to play tricks on you. Right now, it is so hot I am boiling and a minute after it starts to rain. Natural disasters are to be taken seriously whether they affect you or not. Hurricane Floyd was my worst storm that I went through and my heart goes out to all who are hurt and affected by these storms. God bless all. Living in Dominica during the passage of Hurricane David is an experience I will never forget. It made me realize that even as a trained police officer to be prepared to render assistance during and after a disaster one can be completely overcome by the plight and the very effect natural disasters can have on peoples’ lives. So as long as I live I’ll never forget such an experience. Until this year I used to live in Dominica, and last year we where hit by Dean. Never again in my life do I ever want to be in a hurricane. It is petrifying. I was in my house with my 3 dogs, no electricity, no phone, no radio, and for 2 days you are cut off. When I lived in the Bahamas I distinctly watched Hurricane Andrew blow by. It was early on a Wednesday night; I was sitting in front of our french door waiting for the eye of the storm to pass through. The Nassau Met Office had reported that the eye would pass through at about 8 p.m. It was still Eastern standard time but we were covered with a blanket of darkness. And as promised, at 8 o’clock, it was dark and it was calm. For about 8 minutes. We only experienced minimal damage. Andrew went on to virtually destroy South Florida and parts of North Carolina. But that's just it isn't it. Buildings in the Bahamas only ever suffer minimal damage if any damage at all. And that's because the buildings were built to withstand the strongest of hurricanes. As a child I always loved hurricanes as it meant time away from school, but when Hurricane George hit St. Kitts in 1998, there was nothing to enjoy about that. It was indeed a dreadful experience, one I hope never to relive. My heart goes out for all those who are currently in turmoil because of hurricanes. I was in Grenada at the time of Hurricane Ivan and I have concluded that no one can prepare for what Grenada experienced: a Hurricane that ripped apart even hurricane shutters and roofs fitted to withstand hurricane force winds, and don't forget the tornadoes that flattened brick buildings, while wooden buildings next door to those stood tall. I say: just make sure you have food and water with some clean clothes bagged to keep dry and just ride out the storm/hurricane and make the best of it! I lived in Grenada, when it was hit by Ivan, and I feel for everybody who gets hit by an hurricane |
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More on the 2008 Hurricane season
