Memoirs Of A Disaster

September 12, 2012 will mark the 24^th anniversary of the visitation by Hurricane Gilbert.  Only 11 years old at the time, the memories still linger as if it happened only yesterday.  Interestingly, and in retrospect obviously naive, I was looking forward to seeing this hurricane with great anticipation, not having ever witnessed one before; I wanted it to hit the island so desperately. It was a longing I had to see for myself what a hurricane was like, a longing that could only compare to the one I usually get at Christmas time when it was time for new toys.  When I expressed this to my grandmother, and the other adults around, they would say something to the effect of, “yuh a young bud, you nuh know storm” (they weren’t lying, I really didn’t). After that sermon, they would share their horror stories of the destruction that Hurricanes Charlie of 1951 and Allen in 1980 brought.  Still that did nothing to wane the desire to experience firsthand what a hurricane is like.

While the adults were very busy making preparations for the impending category 5 hurricane days before, I was bursting with excitement even as the radio announcers inform that Hurricane Gilbert was a threat to Jamaica and that the ‘eye’ would definitely hit the island. The radio personalities reminded that important documents should be securely wrapped in plastic, and items such as flash lights and batteries were ‘must-haves’ at the passage of such natural disaster.   They warned that windows and doors should be carefully secured with strips of wood; this was to prevent them slamming open during the hurricane.

I vividly remember how my grandparents talked about going under the bed as a means of protection. I actually thought that was funny as I wondered what protection a bed could really offer if it would be as serious as they made it out to be.  Making last minute preparations of all sorts were all anyone could thing of doing.  Extra canned food items and other non-perishables were bought, extra drums of water caught; attempts to fix leaking roofs were made.  Many people in the community had little worry about the spoilage of food in the refrigerator since the number of persons with such luxury then were rare.

Calm before the storm

As the hour drew closer, my anxiety grew with great intensity.  There was a silence in the early morning which was almost deafening, an obvious calm before the storm.  Subsequently there was an eerie whispering sound.    I remember my grandmother being extremely worried about the house collapsing to the ground since its deteriorating condition qualified it to be labeled “fragile – handle with care”.

Finally, the moment I had been waiting for had arrived. In the rural district of Cromwell-Land. Highgate, St. Mary where I lived since six years old, a gushing wind was heard which signaled that what the adults had feared the most had been realized.   I watched from my verandah as hurricane force winds began to blow, increasing in its strength by the minute accompanied by torrential rain.  My grandmother and our neighbours began to pray intermittently; they held discussions about the hurricane across their verandahs, “dis ting yah look serious” one echoed, while another said, “do lawd, do no mek nutten happen to wi”.  They had to shout in order for their voices to be audible above the sounds of the forceful wind and rainfall, which had begun its heavy down pouring, shortly thereafter creating a great inundation.  

Hurricane Gilbert 1988

Flying Saucers

The slender trees began to sway from side to side.  As the speed of the winds increased, the trees began to bend as if they were falling prostrate before God, whispering their own prayers, begging to be spared.  Soon after, much like ‘flying saucers’, zinc roofs began to dance, signaling their willingness to say goodbye to the houses on which they have been attached since they were built.  Eventually, they no longer showed intention to say goodbye, they actually did.  The funniest memory I had was watching a sheet of zinc from the landlord’s roof flown about 110 yards into another as though it had miraculously developed wings.  Mum, as I called my grandmother said that if that roof can go then ours would not stand a chance.  It must have been my innocent, childish, yet positive energy taking control as the entire time I believed in my heart that nothing would ever happen to our house – and nothing serious did. 

In the afternoon, the heavy rains would stop just a little at intervals.  Against the warning of my elders, I, along with other children from the community used the opportunity go outside and pick up a variety of fruits from the ground that had fallen prey to the mighty winds.  June plum, grapefruits, oranges and mangoes were just a few that delighted our taste buds.  While I was having a grand time with the fruits and playing in the water, the looks on the faces of the adults told the story of despair.  Everyone was worried, even those who lived in houses that you might be tempted to call safe. Hurricane Gilbert was not partial.

Resilience

Thought it took some time, over the years, I have garnered a deep understanding of what the devastation brought on by hurricane Gilbert meant for all Jamaicans and the economy. I now understand many things. This hurricane produced over 72 inches of rain in the mountainous areas of the island, causing severe flash floods.  The land of wood and water could not entertain tourists in true Jamaican hospitality for a while, reducing the inflow of the well sought-after foreign currency. Buildings, houses, crops and small aircrafts all suffered immensely as the impact of this disaster was severe. There was a disruption in the supply of utilities, causing interference in the lives of everyone.

I now understand that looters took advantage of the already impoverished shopkeepers, supermarket owners and other business operators struggling to make ends meet.  Farmers lost their produce and livestock. Poor families experienced even more hardships as they struggled in the rebuilding process.  I now understand that I would not like to witness another disaster of this magnitude. 

One of the most intense hurricane ever observed in the Atlantic basin, it claimed approximately 45 lives in Jamaica and several others in Mexico, Haiti, Guatemala, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, the United States, Costa Rica and Nicaragua totaling about 318 deaths.  I now understand that for many Jamaicans, it is a catastrophe that if possible, they would erase any trace of its slightest memory. The memory of it is too painful to say the least.  

Over time though I have witnessed our people bounce back in their true Jamaican resilient nature giving, hope to a situation which would otherwise appear hopeless.  Everyone was united in the rebuilding process; the lines between rich and poor appeared non-existent as no one was spared from the terrible effects of this disaster. 

That was Hurricane Gilbert as I remembered it.