**************************************************** **************************************************** *** *** *** THE PORTMORE WEBSITE NEWSLETTER *** *** *** **************************************************** **************************************************** Newsletter: Number 19 for 2004 - Edition 1 Publication Date: September 21, 2004 Editor: Kennedy Reid Subscribers: 144 Sign up: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/portmore_newsletter/ Reply to: webmaster@portmore.org Web site: http://www.portmore.org Phone: 876-320-7343 Note: Please read notices at end of newsletter CONTENTS ======== 1. Our Hurricane Ivan REPORT 2. Hurricane Update 3. Damage Report 4. Desprate to help a friend - Denise Wooden 5. Worried 6. Seeking C. Belinfante in Jamaica- phillip belinfante 7. PNP politics ############################################################ 1. Our Hurricane Ivan REPORT ############################################################ Well, Hurricane Ivan has come and gone and Jamaica is in the process of recovery. In general, we did not do as badly as we were anticipating, and so all Jamaicans are giving thanks to God. About 50% of the island now has electricity and both air port are open and running. Supermarkets are re-stocking... but the very poor are still challenged. There are quite a few persons without homes and roofs. They will need help. The death toll is near 15 The hurricane stalled off our south coast and suddenly turned due west! Some say it's the prayers and God's mercy (I saw a rainbow when the storm started) that caused that. Others say that the Blue Mountains tend to deflect storms from the island. Over this period I worked periodically with the Portmore Municipality and am able to file the following report: DURING THE HURRICANE ==================== # Hurricane Ivan started on Friday evening September 10, 2004. This was almost 16 years to the day of the last Hurricane; Gilbert. At 11 p.m. on Friday the eye of the storm was 35 miles south of Hellshire (Portmore). The Municipal Command Center and the police Command Center were open and responding to residents throughout the storm. One lady phoned to ask for help as both her doors had flown off. We asked her to seek shelter in with the neighbours! A few school were opened as shelters through the night, but this was at the height of the howling 90 mph breeze. Thanks to C&W we had telephone service through the storm and the radio stations kept people informed. Electricity and water were turned off early on Friday evening. DAMAGE ===== # The greatest damage in Portmore occurred at Portmore Lane, Port Henderson Road, Hellshire, and Newlands. Damage occurred mainly to wooden structures, zinc roofs, Decorative trees, and utility poles. Sand washed over roads and beached. A military boat ran aground at Port Henderson. Flooding was not widespread due to recent clearing of gullies by NWA. Flooding was reported in Bridgeport and Caymanas areas. Just over 400 persons sought shelter. Water and electricity were absent for 3-7 days from most areas. ADVICE ===== # There was a delay in water restoration to Portmore because persons (particularly in Greater Portmore) were cutting low water mains seeking fresh water from them. # JPS is restoring power to customers after inspection of power lines. Areas with extensive utility pole damage are being left out for later attention. Persons are asked NOT to make false reports of fires to JPS in hopes of having a crew attend to their utility poles! # NWA has cleared all roads in Portmore. They are ensuring that there is at least one lane available to traffic. # Residents are asked not to mix garbage and cuttings as the garbage tucks are taking away DOMESTIC WASTE only. Domestic waste has priority because the authorities want to prevent the spread of diseases! When completed, attention will then be paid to cuttings. Residents are asked to pile the cutting for easy removal. # Residents are also asked NOT to burn garbage and cuttings as this is a fire hazard. The Fire station's phones are down at this time and it will be difficult to contact the fire service if things get out of hand. The Municipality will be seeking a temporary phone system for the Fire Brigade. Please note that decomposed vegetation is good for the soil. # In the next few weeks Mayor Lee will be requesting that attention be paid to mosquito control. Residents are asked to ensure that water containers are covered and that other "containers" are turned over to prevent breeding of these pests. # School are to reopen only if they have electricity and water. The Mayor has apologied to the Portmore Schools that were used as shelters for any disrepair that resulted and he will supervise their restoration. There are reports that at some shelters persons deficated and urinated in the class rooms! At other schools persons used the benches for fire wood or sought to access the school canteens. At some schools neighbours broke the tanks seeking water. # Health officials are downplaying reports of typhoid. They say these are isolated cases that occurred long before the hurricane in Greater Portmore and Waterford. The Mayor promised to keep an eye on this matter. There is NO cause for alarm at this time. All health officials agree. # There will be a National response to any food shortages. The Prime minister has said that no politician is to be handing out food but there is to be a system in place to ensure that the needy get food. LESSONS ======= # Portmore can stand up to Hurricanes. We just need to strengthen the Municipal apparatus and the shelter management system. Telephone independent communication is needed for the next disaster. The Water well at Caymanas was great for residents! Residents must make a greater effort to acquire household water tanks!!! # It was pointed out that many schools that were used as shelters had decorated blocks (holes in the walls) in the class rooms and this allowed rain to came in on the shelter seekers. this needs to be addressed. Additionally it was suggested that teachers get trained as shelter managers so as to protect the school property and that a security presence be posted at schools used as shelters. Many shelter seekers complained that there was no food at the shelter and that the quality of food was poor. # The SDC is currently doing an After-Hurricane-Survey in Portmore. Please cooperate with the team as they ask questions and report on our circumstances. **************************************************** ***AdVT.******************************************** *** *** *** Lees Fifth Avenue *** *** *** *** 'Visit us online at' *** *** http://www.leesfifthavenue.com/ *** *** *** *** *** ********************************************ADVT.*** **************************************************** **************************************************** ############################################################ 2. Hurricane Update ############################################################ Like many of you, I toured the community on Saturday morning looking at the damage caused by hurricane Ivan. The website has been updated with these pictures. Please go to: Hurricane Ivan in Portmore pictures at http://www.portmore.org/album/album182.html http://www.portmore.org/album/album183.html Hurricane Ivan in Kingston http://www.portmore.org/album/album529.html http://www.portmore.org/album/album528.html Other Ivan pictures from our local newspapers: http://www.portmore.org/newspapers/ivan-papers-200409-01.jpg http://www.portmore.org/newspapers/ivan-papers-200409-02.jpg http://www.portmore.org/newspapers/ivan-papers-200409-03.jpg http://www.portmore.org/newspapers/ivan-papers-200409-04.jpg http://www.portmore.org/newspapers/ivan-papers-200409-05.jpg http://www.portmore.org/newspapers/ivan-papers-200409-06.jpg http://www.portmore.org/newspapers/ivan-papers-200409-08.jpg http://www.portmore.org/newspapers/ivan-papers-200409-09.jpg http://www.portmore.org/newspapers/ivan-papers-200409-10.jpg http://www.portmore.org/newspapers/ivan-papers-200409-11.jpg http://www.portmore.org/newspapers/ivan-papers-200409-12.jpg Finally, I have movie clips of the storm, but there are the AFTER pictures since Ivan came in the night! http://www.portmore.org/movies/ivan-200409-01.avi http://www.portmore.org/movies/ivan-200409-02.avi On one trip...I saw a very dejected Rasta lady on Hellshire Beach... smoking her ganja (marijuana) and upset that her fish hut had been destroyed. Let us help each other at this time! Please pass this newsletter on to others, so they can see what the storm brought! Also, if you have pictures and ideas, please send them to me for publication on the site! ############################################################ 3. Damage Report ############################################################ Date: Fri, 17 Sep 2004 16:27:38 -0400 (EDT) To: webmaster@portmore.org can you give me some idea any damages to Portmore cause by Ivan.... ...Regards Stan ******************* Webmasters Comment ******************* Damage was limited and there was no loss of life. ############################################################ 4. Desprate to help a friend - Denise Wooden ############################################################ Date: Wed, 15 Sep 2004 21:35:01 -0400 From: foundthepiece@neo.rr.com Add to Address Book Subject: desprate to help a friend To: kennedyreid@yahoo.com Dear sir, my dearest friend and his brother are from portmore. they (Olivier and Robert Downer) are both at sea outrunning the latest tropical storm. they were docked in freeport during frances and "sailing east until ordered to stop to out run ivan. at this time they are out at sea in rough waters trying to remain northeast of the latest storm. the cruise line (Windjammer Barefoot Cruises) has a website created by fans who are actively trying to help the crew members from all the devastation of this season. posted on this site is a request from olivier and robert that they have had no word of their family's wellbeing and are pleading for help to gain any word. Please if you know of any way radio, tv, your website... anything that could get word out that these men need information re: their family. my heart is aching for them with all that they have endured.... do you think you can help?? I am so far away (ohio, USA) any assistance, any ideas please help me get the word out. you can e-mail me at foundthepiece@neo.rr.com or call me at 1-330-479-1379 any time day or night. i expect that if this storm does not chase them down they should be in martinique tomorrow or friday. i would love to be able to ease their minds at that time. sincere thanks, denise wooden **************************************************** ***AdVT.******************************************** *** *** *** Lees Fith Avenue *** *** *** *** 'Visit us online at' *** *** http://www.leesfifthavenue.com/ *** *** *** *** *** ********************************************ADVT.*** **************************************************** **************************************************** ******************** Webmasters reply ******************** I hope someone on this newsletter can help... I have no clue! Kennedy ############################################################ 5. Worried ############################################################ Date: Fri, 17 Sep 2004 19:57:10 -0400 (EDT) To: webmaster@portmore.org Subject: First Page entry worrying about people I met while vacationing many years ago from Gregory Park. Hoping there wasn't too much damage from "Ivan" ******************* Webmasters Comment ******************* Go to the website and see... as I said before damage was limited and there was no loss of life. Kennedy ############################################################ 6. Seeking C. Belinfante in Jamaica- phillip belinfante ############################################################ D From: "phillip belinfante" To: kreid@jpsco.com Date: Wednesday, September 08, 2004 08:56AM Subject: RE: Seeking C. Belinfante in Jamaica Kennedy, thx so much for the phone# of Cassetta Belinfante, the connection was poor but i finnally spoke w her & am thrilled to connect her to her family history that goes back to the 1400s in Holland, I hope you will print my info in your newsletter for Belinfante family history..Phillip Charles Belinfante 9870 south florence way south jordan Utah USA 88095 phone 801 446 1813 & my email belinfante@hotmail.com its very exciting to see my family trees branches world wide,its a very old dutch family, there are many Rabbis in the ancestry & many jews later killed in the holocaust, its a fascinating history...thx so very much Phil Belinfante ******************** Webmasters reply ******************** Real Glad I was able to help! ############################################################ 7. PNP politics ############################################################ If you are not interested in Jamaican politics... skip this! I looked on Yahoo, but could NOT find any JLP nor PNP groups! This is a shame... and so I created a PNP group for Peoples National Party supports, members, and friends. If you fall in this category, then please join the group at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pnp-online/ If you are a supporter or member of the JLP, then do go to Yahoo and form a group for yourself. It would be out of order for me to create JLP group! Call if you need help. Yahoo groups allow persons to exchange ideas, dates, polls, etc. Online activities allow persons to keep abreast and in touch. Jamaicans, of whatever color, should take advantage of this medium. More later everyone! [------------------THE END OF ENTRIES-------------------] Legal Notices - Please read 1. This newsletter makes NO guarantees of accuracy nor authorship. 2. The contents of this newsletter do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher, and do NOT represent the views of any Political Party or Community Organisation. 3. Commercial publication of this newsletter needs the express consent of the webmaster in writing. 4. Copy Rights are owned by Kennedy Reid General Notes - Please read 1. Please copy this newsletter to as many persons as you may, However, please do not alter the contents. 2. To read our past newsletters go to http://www.portmore.org/newsletters/index.html 3. This newsletter is an open forum so please feel free to send us your contributions. We do NOT edit your letters, but may delete sections that can not be published. Deleted sections will be noted. Private e-mail addresses are deleted from letters and, if you ask, we will delete your name also! The Webmaster may comment on your contribution, but reserves the last word for you. Write to webmaster@portmore.org or rhouse@cybervale.com 4. Comments made in this newsletter should be taken in a light manner as the style of this newsletter attempts to be humourous. "Why be ordinary?" - KR [--------------------------THE END--------------------------------]