FROM THE FIELD
1 September 2008As Tropical Storm Gustav poured torrents of rain on the Cayman Islands on Friday, Cayman Islands Red Cross volunteers and staff were out in force helping the people affected.The Red Cross helps set up shelters across the islands, which were run by volunteers and the local authorities. Red Cross first aid volunteers also stayed at the shelters in case there were any medical emergencies.Hemant Balgobin, disaster manager for the Cayman Islands Red Cross, said: "There were 715 people seeking safety at shelters in Grand Cayman. Twenty-five Red Cross volunteers set up and ran the shelters, while ten other volunteers helped with our disaster management operation."Disaster managementHe continued: "In Cayman Brac we had 411 people and five volunteers at our shelters, some of whom didn't leave until Saturday. On Little Cayman, most roadways were blocked and crews are working to clear debris. All power lines on the north side of the island were down, as well as twelve electrical poles. The south side was impassable and a few roofs were damaged. The police station was also flooded."By Saturday, Gustav was still sending strong gusts of wind and thunderstorms across the western side of Cayman Brac and crews were working to clear debris from the roads across the islands. Hemant said: "People are in good spirits and are helping each other out in clearing debris." Hurricanes and stormsThe Cayman Islands Red Cross is an Overseas Branch of the British Red Cross. Staff and volunteers help prepare people for and take shelter from natural disasters, such as hurricanes and tropical storms.In July, they distributed 125 sandbags to help residents protect their homes from flooding from Tropical Storm Dolly.Read more about Tropical Storm DollyFind out about our Overseas BranchesRead about current emergencies[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
