TROPICAL STORM MITCH

December 1998 Table of Contents - Current Issue of The Abaco Journal - Abaco Bahamas' Home Page

TROPICAL STORM MITCH

Residents of Treasure Cay, Abaco, had a rude awakening early Thursday morning, 5th November. A twister caused by the frontal system of Tropical Storm Mitch cut a swath across the resort peninsula causing extensive damage to property belonging to Treasure Cay Ltd.

Coming in from the south at the marina entrance and leaving midway along the famous Treasure Cay beach, the twister uprooted ficus and casuarina trees and snapped coconut palms in half.

First in line was the Tipsy Seagull bar which experienced severe roof damage from falling coconut palms. The Marina Shop and the Spinnaker restaurant also suffered extensive damage and employees were lending a hand in the cleaning up process instead of serving breakfast to clients.

The twister passed across the Little Switzerland parking lot and hit the old Treasure Cay hotel, uprooting one of the giant ficus trees that grace the surrounding parkland. The ficus was left leaning against the hotel. The last damage was to the seafront Sandbar Grill. Its roof ended up in the sea.

According to local residents, it was 3.25 am when the twister struck. Cavelle Macdonell, a Canadian art teacher who lives in a villa next to Little Switzerland, said she didn't know what was going on when the twister passed. "I've never experienced anything like this in my life. One of my windows was smashed and my favourite Poinsettia which was seven feet tall has completely disappeared. I wasn't frightened at the time because I didn't know what was happening. Only now I realise how close I was to disaster." Indeed, only feet away from Ms Macdonell's house the destruction was at its worst.

Treasure Cay resident Sinclair Frederick said the damage was so sporadic it looked like a giant finger squashing ants. In some places there was complete destruction while a few yards away the buildings and trees were untouched.

There was very little damage to private residences and it seems the bulk of the destruction occurred to property belonging to Treasure Cay Ltd. Mr Everette Pinder said at least half a million dollars of damage had been suffered by the company.

Telephone lines were down in the affected area and the power was off. Treasure Cay Ltd crews were busy from early in the morning trimming the branches from damaged trees and clearing the debris from roads and walkways.

[You can view more photos of the Treasure Cay twister damage on the web at <oii.net>]

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