Tuesday, August 21st, 2007...8:30 pm
Flying zinc, helping others and my mother (Part III)
If they weren’t huddled inside The Gleaner building on North Street working round-the-clock covering Hurricane Dean, our journalists were busy doing what everyone was trying to do: survive it. Published in parts I, II and III are the individual experiences of the Gleaner Online team …
Kerry-Ann Bercher, Gleaner Online Reporter
Hurricane Dean was my third hurricane experience after Ivan in 2004 and before that Gilbert in 1988 when I was just four months old.
Photo by Kerry-Ann Bercher: flooding in the community
However the difference with Dean is that I was moving house at the time. Nonetheless my mother and I completed the move in time for us to get prepared and make calls to friends and wish them the best ahead of the storm and offered a roof to stay under, if they needed it.
Having finished moving at 2 a.m. on the Saturday we kept unpacking the next morning as we tried to make it ‘Home Sweet Home’, regardless of what happened outside.
And then the dogs started barking.
“That’s not unusual,” explained my mother. “That’s the awesomeness of God. When I was growin’ up in the country, the dogs and birds always knew when a storm was coming. The dogs would howl and bark and the birds would chirp, then they would run to higher ground.”
I picked up my cell phone to call my friends and alert them to the implications of this information. But the lines were dead and after receiving a few calls from friends, which I was grateful for, the battery went dead. And with the light being cut off at 10 a.m. in advance of Dean, it would remain that way.
We prayed and then in the afternoon, heavy rain began to beat the shingles on the roof and the howling wind, occasionally making weird noises, frightened my mother. We kept praying.
A man across the street from us had a totally different prayer all together. “Jah Rastafari!” he chanted from underneath his tarpaulin-covered shack, nestled between a wall and a large tree. “Sen’ Dean fi come wash out the Babylon boy dem! Yes! Jah Rastafari!” Still chanting, he stepped out, revealing the rest of his attire - black shoes, blue jeans, a red shirt under his jacket and matted hair under his black tam.
Then he nearly slipped and fell with expletives of all sizes, shapes and colours following from his mouth. He soon stepped back inside.
The weather continued to worsen with an apartment complex across the road losing its roof to Dean’s strong winds.
But at 5:30 a.m. the next day it wasn’t Mother Nature that woke us up but what else, but dogs barking. Then at 10 followed 90 minutes of gunfire, followed by the sirens of police and fire brigade vehicles.
That apart, things slowly got back to normal towards the evening. Taxis and buses could be seen running their usual route, and people met on the corner playing dominoes, while some nailed down parts of their roof or burning debris. It almost seemed as if nothing happened.
8 Comments
August 22nd, 2007 at 4:55 am
It is sad to hear that lives were lost, and property destroyed. However, it is even worst to hear that, looting and stealing to place at a time when all were suffering. I believe in the great spirit of fellow Jamaican, and were should continue to overcome evil with good, no matter what the situation. To those who loot, and steel, remember we are all suffering, and hence should take care of our fellow man. Lets visit the young, homeless, elderly, sick and less fortunates ones, and give them support and an helping. God bless you all and love from all of us in London.
August 22nd, 2007 at 8:26 am
Ahh the resilience of my Jamaican people. I am here in Iraq watching and prayer for everyone there and yes you all made it through sans the damages to buildings and roads. I am grateful to see that there has been no reports of deaths due to Dean but still saddened by the other reports of deaths by human hands. With all that said I am still proud to declare to any and everyone that I am and will always be a Jamaican.
August 22nd, 2007 at 11:57 am
I am proud to see my Jamaican brothers and sisters united and helping to rebuild the country.I was on vacation out of the island in Ivan and again for Dean.
It is ironic that the coverage we received in the States was covering Montego Bay, when the hurricane was heading for Kingston. We are a Blessed nation and once again we were speared a direct hit.God Bless jamaica
August 22nd, 2007 at 6:45 pm
I am proud of my jamaican sisters and brothers who stand together to pull trough such devastateting storm, once again we have have spared the roth, it could worst lets stand together and get back our beautiful country back and runing.Sorry to here after all of this the criminal them were out helping them self.
August 23rd, 2007 at 12:26 am
I watched as all the report were being developed. Worried sick I prayed that God would just spare Jamaica one more time. Jamaica is a blessed country, as we can see everytime a storm or hurricane is headed our way, it always take another path or not hit directly. It is just sad that there was shooting and looting in this time of distruction. I just hope that we keep coming together and looking out for each other. That is always going to be my prayers for Jamaica. My home sweet home. I love you all.
God Bless Jamaica always.
August 23rd, 2007 at 10:27 am
Psalm 91: for he shall give his angels charge over to you to keep you in all your ways. I said this Psalm when Ivan and Dean were about to hit Kingston (Harbour View in particular).
Jamaicans at home, do not forget the power of God. He will keep you and the island safe. Do not forsake him nor have false gods before him. Remember his Comandments; he spared you all for devasting destruction. Keep the faith; remember Him and his Son Jesus Christ.
August 25th, 2007 at 6:58 am
What do you mean, ‘the awesomeness of god’? Are you thinking straight? Are you THINKING at all??? Devastation and death (fortunately few deaths) being visited on us in the form of a hurricane, whole families without shelter, and you attribute this to a god, to whom you continue to pray????? You CAN’T be serious!
August 27th, 2007 at 3:55 pm
Praise God , Praise God!!! Jamaica is a Blessed Island. I have watched many, many storms headed in that direction and the almighty has put his hand upon you and kept you safe. I do feel much sorrow for those who have killed others in this time of need. You see God shall make their suffering seen by many. Their souls will not have rest, until they repent and help others.
Jamaica you have shown others your mighty abilities and the strong hold that the Island has with God and his son Jesus Christ. Praise God, Praise God!!! This too shall pass!!!
From an American Citizen!!
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