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The Caribbean Hurricane PageUpdates from the Islands
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The recent updates can be found here.
[Mon, 21 Sep 1998 17:29EDT] - Received an update from John Fuller via son Eli (Ant1Eli@aol.com):
Spoke with my dad, John Fuller, a few times today on his cell phone. In fact I
called him at 1 AM his time when he was in the eye. Again, half an hour ago,
and he said that he was totally exhausted, and looking for two carpenters! His
wooden house made it through w/o any damage, but his generator room, made from
brick lost its roof. Some woden houses are built tough!!!!!!! Thats three
hurricanes w/o damage. He says that overall it doesn't apear to be as bad on
the island as it was the day after Luis. Many of the villages in the South and
East were hit badly though. Loads of roof damage. He said that Sandals took a
beating, as well as Halcyon Cove. The Oldest Hotel on the island, The Lord
Nelson, on Dutchmans Bay was hit pretty hard, but Graham & Mary Bloomfield's
house on the point is w/o damage. Jolly Harbour is in pretty good shape with
only a few boats ''getting away'', and only a few sinking inside. A few that
were on dry dock fell off their blocks. St. Johns is in much better shape than
after Luis, according to dad, but the Government house took another hit from
one of those massive trees next to the New Club. If anyone needs to find out
about someone or a family in particular, I will be speaking to my Dad on his
cell phone again tomorrow morning. Let me know and I can find out for you.
[Mon, 21 Sep 1998 08:44EDT] - Barb Waite reporting on Antigua:
Dear Friends, 7:30am
Just spoke to Curt. Quite a miracle to get through. He said the
phones have been dead for hours. I tried once and it just rang, tried again and it gave
busy signal and then amazingly I got him.
Winds were not as ferocious as Luis but there is lots of damage. Curt
said the roof was still on but water was pouring in as we spoke. The shingles began to
leave as soon as the eye passed over. He said almost right away the rain was super
heavy. Until the eye passed the rain had been minimal. Since then at least 6-8" or more- (
no guage) has come in. We have soaked mattress in our room and office. 80# of new dog
food has melted into two piles of dog mash all over the kitchen. Curt said there is 2"
of water standing in all our bedrooms- with more coming in all the time. The fence is
damaged by
flying debris, grrenhouse has flown into someone else's yard. Curt said Rita
has lots of water in her house once again. Curt has been unable to get out to see damage
beyond our neighborhood. Caribbean Radio Lighthouse is still on the air. I will send
further reports as information comes in. I have ne idea if my next phone call will get
through. I have noticed that Today show on TV isn't telling anything about what has
happened in the islands already hit- perhaps few phones are still working.
God is good- I didn't expect to hear from Curt for days. Now we must begin to
plan what next. The clean up will take weeks and a great deal of work. Curt was
scheduled to come be with me in 9 days- don't imagine that will happen now. Perhaps I
will go to help him- he will certainly need help. Many thanks to all of you who prayed.
Was amazing to watch the winds right before it got to Antigua go from 150 down to 115.
Jerry Baker called this am and said they got through to CRL at 4am and Erskine said the
winds were only 85mph at CRL- nearly half of what they were expecting just hours before.
God indeed controls the winds and the waves and reminds us of it from time to time.
Secure in His care, Barb Waite
[Mon, 21 Sep 1998 7:48] - I just spoke to Martha Watkins Gilkes' mother in Mississippi. The main thing: they are alive. On first sight it seems that there is extensive damage. The roof stayed on, but for the rest it looks pretty sad. But they are OK, all other things can be rebuild or replaced.
[Mon, 21 Sep 1998 1:22] - Just got off the phone with John Fuller. Wind started banging from exactly opposite direction. The other side of the storm... On first sight he said it doesn't look too bad. A few boats have gotten loose, but no total devastation or anything like that!
[Sun, 20 Sep 1998 00:55EDT] - Curt Waite reporting from Antigua:
This is a message relayed from Curt Waite in Antigua. It is midnight Sunday and I just
spoke with him in Antigua. He said the first leaks are starting- (over the bed )Yuk. We
have lost our greenhouse ( which survived Luis) . Curt said just as I called that the
eye was passing over because it had suddenly become very calm. In fact he put the phone
down and went and opened the back door and stepped outside to see how bad it was. He
said there was just a light rain falling almost no rain during first half of storm. He
said he didn't think it looked as bad so far as Luis as far as wind damage to the trees
so far. He did note that our windsurfer that was tied down with cement blocks had gone
sailing somewhere. He said he had heard that the multicultural center that the Chinease
built was damaged. Another friend had called and said her gallery ( porch) had already
been destroyed. I was just thankful that so far the phones were still operating. Radio
Lighthouse is still on the air- we are thankful for that.
One note- www.storm98.com has had quick info - but I wonder how reliable. It
reported that in St John's Antigua people were going into their "basements". We have
lived in Antigua since 1974 and I have yet to see a basement. It also said shopkeepers
were using sandbags to protect storefronts- Curt laughed when I told him that- neither
of us has ever seen a sandbag used there. Oh well, guess it sounded likely for Florida
preparations- but not Antigua.
If this is disjointed it is because of the hour. If you are interested I will
send you an update as I hear from Curt. Sincerely, Barb Waite
[Sun, 20 Sep 1998 23:42EDT] - Martha Watkins Gilkes reporting from Antigua:
STILL HAVE TELEPHONE... AND WE HAVE WEATHERED ANOTHER HOUR...AND ARE
NOW IN THE EYE... I WAS ABLE TO GO OUTSIDE AND CHECK ON BANGING ,
ETC.. BUT HARD TO TELL IN PITCH DARK...WIND NOW STARTING OUT OF
SOUTH.. MY WORST SIDE AS MY OPEN HOUSE FACES DUE SOUTH... MET OFFICE
SAYS WIND AROUND 100 MPH... LESS THAN WE FELT WE WOULD GET SO HOPEFULLY
NOT TOO MUCH DAMAGE?!!??... AND WHEN I CALLED MET OFFICE THEY WERE
STILL IN FULL WIND - I AM LOCATED 14 MILES TO SOUTH OF AIRPORT... SO
THEY WILL SOON BE INTO THE EYE ON NORTH END OF ISLAND.. SO ...HERE WE
GO AGAIN.... TILL NEXT UPDATE...
[Mon, 21 Sep 1998 00:22] - Just got off the phone with John Fuller. It was quiet. They are in the EYE. No wind, a little rain. Wind shifted from N to NE. It was bad he said. Worse than Luis (which went right over Barbuda, about 20 miles north of Antigua). His house seems to be fine. A neighbor lost his roof... His generator just went, so no e-mail anymore...
[Sun, 20 Sep 1998 23:58EDT] - Nick Maley (http://1-by-1.com/WebPages) reporting from Antigua:
Well it's really on us now. Pounding angry winds..... fearsome gusts, little rain,
some lightening. I hear the roof groan and rattle. My old house is not enjoying
this. Neither am I. I see from the 11pm update of the tracking map that the
possibility of a hit on the south of antigua is a real possibility in a few hours.
I guess the worst is still to come. Power went out at around 9.00pm. I'm sure many
lines must be down tree branches litter my garden and the banana tree are pretty
well gone I think. It's amazing the phone line is still up. I'm about to pack up
my computer and pack it in plastic in case it getts much worse. If all is ok I
will check back when the worst has passed
[Sun, 20 Sep 1998 23:42EDT] - Martha Watkins Gilkes reporting from Antigua:
CANNOT BELIEVE I AM STILL ABLE TO LOG ON.... I THINK ALL YOU GUYS
PRAYING FOR US REALLY IS HELPING! Meanwile.. our winds are up to 74
mph met office says.. 11 pm update says eye is 30 miles from
us...moving at 16 miles per hr....so we have another 2 hours for the
eye...and then some for the other side...and the wind is not even that
stong if it is going to 115 plus.. (At LEast not to 150?? )... I
feel it is stronger here.. on the south east side of the island .....
top of the highesst hill around facing east.. Hey it is a great
Caribbean view any other time... I can hear the surf from Half Moon Bay
POUNDING... beach will certainly be washed away. If there is a hell I
feel like it is now.. even though I have been thru it with Luis...being
locked up in a "breathless" house..with wooden and metal hurricane
shutters banging and good old west indian galvanized roofing ratteling
--- after all my fancy ceder shingles went flying like a kite (as our
Calpyso singer ARROW SINGS ABOUT roofs and hurricanes!) in 95 I
decided to go for good ole galvanaize (TIN) roofing.. so although it
is noisy...hope it won't all fly off!! All for now... and will try for
another update in hour or so if phone still on.. sure not sleeping
tonight...
[Sun, 20 Sep 1998 23:30EDT] - John Fuller reporting from Antigua (I just called me as well by telephone; I could hear the wind howling around his house...):
can't believe the intensity-must be 125mph outside. theres going to be a
lot of damage here.its 1130 and were in the middle of it,you never want to
do this unless you have to-----believe me.
[Sun, 20 Sep 1998 22:55EDT] - Gerard Barreto reporting from Antigua (with the eye of Georges just 30 miles away...):
It is now 22:00, the winds are still 25 mph gusting to 50 mph, press. 1006 mb,
winds are out of the NNE. We lost power at 21:00 hrs and it is island wide. We
still have the phone lines intact. The wind is not constant, which is good. At
20:00 hrs
GEORGES was 85 miles ESE of Antigua, with 125 mph winds traveling at 16 mph. I am
hoping it continues on this path and it would most likely pass east of us.
It is also to be noted at this time the winds are alot less on the western side.
The met. office is now saying we will experience hurricane force winds at about
midnight somewhere about 75-100 mph.
[Sun, 20 Sep 1998 22:02EDT] - Martha Watkins Gilkes reporting from Antigua:
STILL CONNECTED / ON LINE...
JUST SPOKE TO MET OFFICE.. WINDS GUSTING from east TO 54 MPH AND
PRESSURE DROPPING.. SURE SOUNDS LIKE MORE THRU MY HURRICANE
SHUTTERS...
ITS COMING... ALREADY TOLD YOU ELECTRICITY OUT.... AMAZING I CAN
STILL LOG ON.. SO.. WILL KEEP TRYING LATER...
[Sun, 20 Sep 1998 21:05EDT] - Martha Watkins Gilkes reporting from Antigua:
Well this really may be my last shot... our power is out.. am on a
battery op. laptop.. and phone still on but only for limited time
(been there/ done that... so I KNOW)... wind is howling.. Yes.. our
local met office just did a great tv special before power cut to say it
has decreased to 130.. but as they said "Georges is playing cat and
mouse" so we dont know what he will do.. We cant do anything at this
point but Wait AND SEE THE DAMAGE... They said at 8 p.m. we were
starting to feel the tip of the hurricane...that the body of the storm
was touchig our shores... and by midnight would have the eye...
BIG BUMMER IS THEY SAY TROPICAL DEPRESSION #9 is just behind???? Can
that be true...Gert... you have not told us!!! What is happening to my
tropical paradise..
Being in the marine enviroment business, I think sadly of all the
marine life that is being thrown around now..and that will be washed up
on our shores tomorrow.. Nature is certainly a law unto herself...
so... in haste before our lines go...want to get this out to gert.
Hope I can send more later but I am so exhausted after getting ready for
this that I may droP!... until ... thanks again to all who sent
prayers and concern...
[Sun, 20 Sep 1998 20:33EDT] - John Fuller reporting from Antigua:
still on line!!!winds increasing all the time-still ene but gusting
to60--feel like a mole--living underground-- to all those friends who are
e-mailing -dont worry-we'll beat it. the power co. is doing an incredible
job.never wuold've believed it. have my marine vhf radio on-listening .no
serious trouble yet. main damage is to coast so far.gert we love you
[Sun, 20 Sep 1998 20:26EDT] - Steve Coghlan reporting from Antigua:
SUN 8:15PM AST - The winds in Antigua are Northerly and beginning to
strengthen. It is very difficult to tell the wind speeds, but I would
say that we are at tropical storm force at the moment.
Not much to report as yet but I will try when the winds reach
Hurricane force.
[Sun, 20 Sep 1998 19:50EDT] - John Fuller reporting from Antigua:
a quick one-just closed in everything and now we'll ride the beast.winds
solid ene at 35-50mph.garden nearly trashed already.expect power and phones
to go soonlittle or no rain--ocean -gotta sea it to believe it-see if the
satellite can see an adrenaline hotspot--its here..
[Sun, 20 Sep 1998 19:40EDT] - Gerard Barreto reporting from Antigua:
It now 19:35.
We are experiencing some winds of 20-29 mph, the barometric pressure is stable,
the winds are out of the NNE. The local update is due any time now by Mr.. Mason.
We still have power, but I can see it going pretty soon, lines are touching,
sparks are flying.
I have a stand-by so I hope to be on- line when ever possible.
I would like my friends in Monsterrat to know we are thinking of them.
Winds are like a Drag race, one moment 5 mph, then 29 mph in a second.
[Sun, 20 Sep 1998 18:01EDT] - Martha Watkins Gilkes reporting from Antigua:
The wind has REALLY picked up... just made a quick trip down to HALF
MOON BAY Beach -- 2 minutes from me and one of our most beautiful
beaches on the island..... to shoot some photos of this unreal sea
pounding in.. we have been told by our local met office that by 7 we
will be getting serious winds.. and expect the eye around midnight...
still just enough time to prune off some branches on my palms
trees... heart breaking to see a garden hard worked on blown apart...
but will be worse to have my house blown apart and that is feared! We
know this is a serious hurricane... We also know our electricity will
be cut anytime.. will try to keep in touch by battery operated lap
top comp. as long as phone lines stay up... It is amazing how many
people out there seem to have appreciated getting island news so glad I
could help... thanks to those who have said thanks for the
reporting... and THANKS TO STORM 98 and Gert for helping us soooo
much....we had nothing like this in LUIS and this makes a big diff...
So the tough part begins.. waiting and wondering what we will find this
time tomorrow after the blow... hope I can be back in touch bit later
tonight... and after that...who knows when... took me 4 months after
LUIS to get my phone AND electricity back!!!
[Sun, 20 Sep 1998 17:12EDT] - Gerard Barreto reporting from Antigua:
It is 5:00pm we are experiencing some wind gusting to 20 mph, press. 1012 mb, and
tides are rising. Everything around is quite we are all waiting, for the worse,
hoping we get least out of it. The winds are out of the N- NE. I have seen the
latest satellite photos for 16:30 and it looks like we will be in the north
quadrant of the hurricane. As I write we are experiencing a constant 19 mph winds
from NE. My prayers and thoughts go out the rest of Antiguans and the people of
Guadeloupe.
[Sun, 20 Sep 1998 16:56EDT] - John Fuller reporting from Antigua:
you wont believe it but we've just had a swim! its been so hot and what
with all the construction work and with no storm as yet, well we decided
to swim--the seas are monstous -swell-wise- but no big wind yet.high
clouds,very few squalls .i guess everyone's house feels like mine does
now-only one door open everywhere else boarded up so the inside is
oven-like.i just know phones and power will go soon---the outer bands are
not far--100mls? so i'll lose you and the net. i have a cellular. people
starting to do rounds now-visiting and checking friends-won't last long--
[Sun, 20 Sep 1998 15:54EDT] - Steve Coghlan reporting from Antigua:
SUN 3:47PM AST - We are still waiting. It is becoming a bit unnerving but I
understand that the eye is reforming and may soon be in our area.
Many thanks for all the people who have taken the time to send best wishes. We
hope to be able to send info on conditions as the storm hits so keep watching this
site.
[Sun, 20 Sep 1998 15:02EDT] - Martha Watkins Gilkes reporting from Antigua:
GERT... It is starting to happen here... wind picking up and the sky to
south is like a black curtain was put up... Very frightening situation
but we are trying to remain calm....there is always MORE you think about
doing...but we just have to stop now and get ready to WAIT... will keep
sending you news until our phones go...which they will...
have had unreal / toiuching response from people who have been
reading my reports to you... very touching..
so... hope I can keep in touch while longer... thanks for all you
are doing...
[Sun, 20 Sep 1998 14:44EDT] - John Fuller reporting from Antigua:
its 230pm.no wind!hotter n hell -sunny!monster swells breaking on outer
reefs.no traffic -no neople ,not even hammering now-total silence-except
for a distinctly audible rumbling.on marine vhf several people around
island say they hear same and its not the swells breaking-v. weird.we're
all ready now-many who stayed home for luis are going to shelters.we'll
think of you all tonight esp. those who have e-mailed.
[Sun, 20 Sep 1998 14:23EDT] - Gerard Barreto reporting from Antigua:
It is now 2:15 PM, 9/20, is very calm my little weather station tells me
the wind is out of NW 0-4 mph, press.1014, temp is 81 F. We live on the
North side of Antigua and this is my third hurricane, not a good feeling.
I log on Hurricane Center for the up to date weather info and I find
there are very good source. I use two software's to track the hurricane
which I have been using for the last four years. The Tide has not risen
that much maybe Three to five feet as compared to Luis at about the same
time which was much higher.
Our met office is doing at damn good job keep us up to date as well as
our local radio station ABS.
I will be on the my computer as along I have a phone line.
[Sun, 20 Sep 1998 11:43EDT] - Martha Watkins Gilkes reporting from Antigua:
IT IS JUST AFTER 11 A.M.... WE ARE STILL RECEIVING THE 5 am info on
island about this monster with a major report due at 11:30 am
I have moved my desktop from my upstairs office so was off line for
a while but now have my desktop linked up
-While we do not have the latest on island... and I am only now logging
on for latest from STOM.... my family just called from USA with 11 am
coordinates... 16.3 now...moved up from 16.1 at 5 a.m... OH MY... is
moving north towards Antigua... so hard to believe... weather still
beautiful.. hardly a breeze - only odd rain shower.. Airport is
closed down and no one even aswers phones at LIAt - our regional
airline carrier....
This is going to be a nightmare over the next 24 hours... will keep
sending you up dates as long as our phones lines hold out...which I am
sure will not be for too long.. our poles still lean from last
hurricane..... oh my.. all who read this, please remember those
of us who are about to ride this out...
[Sun, 20 Sep 1998 06:50EDT] - Martha Watkins Gilkes reporting from Antigua:
This morning is certainly THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM... The sea is like
a big pond... not a puff of air .. hard to believe this monster is on
our door step.... Our airport is closed and our met office says things
should start to get bad in an hour or so... we feel we will get the full
blow and ANtigua will be terribly damaged.. after LUIS I had no
electricity OR TELEPHONE for 4 MONTHS... so here we go again... we
need all the prayers we can get... dont know how long we will be
connected to the phones to send news... thanks for all concerned...
[Sun, 20 Sep 1998 05:42EDT] - John Fuller reporting from Antigua:
just getting light now.winds still n.e. @ c.12-15mph. a little more cloud
than usual but not overcast.looks like we'll have some time to finish up
this a.m. & even have a good breakfast.luis in 95 killed so many
birds-especially hummig birds.think of us.i am a bit fatalistic--every one
seems to have accepted the fact that we're going to get it. can't it pass
north PLEASE. i hear a prop. aircraft overhead(the airport is closed)
going east.must be a hurricane hunter; their"motto" is "hurricane hunters
make hairy entries" good luck to them
[Sun, 20 Sep 1998 00:44EDT] - John Fuller reporting from Antigua:
its 1230 am sun. 20.9.98.my sister was born 48 yrs. ago today in the last
serious hurricane to hit antigua before luis in 95.they then never knew
what was about to hit them. i'm not sure who is better off.imagine what the
arawaks went through 2000 yrs. ago right here.hurricane is an arawak word
adopted by the caribs when they arrived about 1000 yrs. ago and used ever
since.europeans used to call them cape verde storms &they sure are.i guess
most people here are getting some very uneasy zzzzs to be able to do battle
during the day tommorrow---plywood is still available now at nearly 1 a.m!
one almost can imagine what a g.i. must have felt like the night before
d-day--girded for war--making sure that every available weapon is well
oiled--for us -plywood,nails,shutters,tower bolts,tools.
wind starting to pick up from n.e.not v. strong 10-18 maybe. my barometer
never recovered after luis so cant help with press.my anemometer made it
though and still reads well,but i wont be able to access it in height of
storm tommorrow .its upstairs and we'll be locked in down here. must sleep.
[Sat, 19 Sep 1998 23:57EDT] - Steve Coghlan reporting from Antigua:
SAT 11:42PM AST - The weather here is calm and clear as one would
expect. The wind is easterly at about 10 mph and the barometric pressure
has not yet begun to fall.
The 11pm report does not look good for us here in Antigua, and my
biggest fears are that many people believed that we would only
experience tropical storm conditions. As you can imagine, this is going
to be a rough ride for anyone not fully prepared. This is a very
impressive hurricane from all reports, and I am not looking forward to
the next 36hrs.
[Sat, 19 Sep 1998 23:44EDT] - Alan B. Scholl reporting from Antigua is getting prepared:
Oh yeah, I am garbage bagging, duck taping and praying. Since the weather
sites are busy I checked my email for storm98 updates. I am preparing for
worst case scenario (i.e the whole ...ing roof goes)
The weather is quite calm 23:40 Sep 19 (note Hurr. HUGO's anniversary)
but we are all a bit nervous and worried. We will just have to bear the
blunt. The projected track from Univ. of Haewaii puts the eye between
Antigua & Barbuda just as LUIS did in 95.
Well I will keep emailing you if I have power as they are going to leave
it on but if the breakers pop, oh well.
[Sat, 19 Sep 1998 23:19EDT] - Martha Watkins Gilkes reporting from Antigua:
Things are looking rather serious here in Antigua... Our local (and
only) channel is discussing only HURRICANE and now feels we are going to
GET IT!!! Every one is putting up shutters and doing last min.
things... we have been advised to be finished by sunset today...but
probably wont get winds until early a.m. Sunday... For those of us who
went thru 36 hours of LUIS this is a very stressful time not
knowing....and KNOWING SOMEWHAT...what is ahead. We will keep you
posted of happenings in the island as we can... at the moment it is the
most beautiful day you can imagine....hard to think this monster is on
our doorstep.... thanks for keeping us posted STORM 98
[Sat, 19 Sep 1998 18:15EDT] - John Fuller reporting from Antigua:
there is an eerie quiet that has spread over us .i think it is the sound of
fear.the latest f.casts put the eye over my house tommorrow
afternoon.honestly we didn't expect this. we haven't even recovered from
luis
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