Ivan

"David Herman" wrote in message
news:1095148214.989351@yasure...

"C J Campbell" wrote in message
...

"SelwayKid" wrote in message
m...
Gonna be interesting the next few days. I'm in Mobile, Alabama and one
of our airports, Brookley Field nearly sticks into Mobile Bay.
Elevation reported at 26' and for sure will be under water if the bay
gets pushed in like it frequently does. Can't help but wonder how its
gonna affect the aircraft that don't move out.... Part of the problem
is figuring out where to move them to?
Last reports show Ivan on a direct course for us.

Saw on the Weather Channel a report that the runway on Grand Cayman was
still under two feet of water this afternoon. We had planned to vacation
there next month. Our hotel's office in Florida says that they have not
been
able to contact the hotel at all; even cellular phones are not working.
It
may be a few days before any realistic reports of damage come out of
there.
The Caymanians are very nice people. Hope things are not too bad for
them
there.

From what I've seen on the scuba diving boards, the Caymans really took it
on the chin (reports coming on by ham radio sounded fairly grim - very
widespread destruction but at least no loss of life). I would think twice
about a trip there anytime soon.

Oh, there is no way. We were going to stay at the Grand Caymanian. The water
level is reported to have been to the top of the first floor and the admin
building and scuba shop floated away. The beach was man made. I doubt if
anything is left of it. The buildings are reported to be "mostly intact,"
whatever that means.

Church Street is said to be completely gone -- not just washed out, but
gone, along with all the buildings on the sea side of that street. That
would wipe out virtually all the dive shops in Georgetown, along with the
submarines, the fishing fleet, and dive fleet.

The Turtle Farm is also gone, along with the priceless research facility and
some species of turtles that were bordering on extinction.

Many big hotels are reporting crabs and other sea creatures inhabiting areas
above the fifth floor. Damage to the Marriott was worse than we first heard;
the lobby and fifth floor are sagging and will probably collapse completely.

I suppose even the tender docks for the cruise ships are gone.

I would guess that it will be six months to a year before the Caymans could
be ready to receive tourists again. Of course, if you want to volunteer to
help clean up, they can probably use you.