NOV. 99
ANTIGUA
DAMAGE REPORTS - HURRICANE LENNY
Updated Monday 6th Dec. 99:

When the page has loaded you can jump to the reports about specific hotels here. Otherwise read on and you will find them eventually anyway.

The worst damage was to our already wobbly roads. The newest were OK but anywhere that the roads were old or under construction they were eroded and in some cases became impassable. With two feet of rain in just two days, water ran down slopes, collected in gullies and made a dash for the sea. Although that only effected specific areas, it washed out roads, undermined buildings and at the very least spread mud in many places that we wouldn't choose. There was six to eight feet of flooding in low lying areas in the Southwest. Fortunately most blockages have since been cleared.

This photo shows the road at Darkwood that was washed away by water escaping the salt pond on one side whilst the sea pounded at the other. This photo was taken one day after the storm before the weather cleared up. Sightseers stare at each other across the gaping divide. The gap has since been bridged. The same thing happened at Runaway.

I don't really know how they measure rainfall. Sometimes it seems to rain a lot and they say only 2 inches fell. The reports I saw varied from 20 to 26 inches of rain but...... my swimming pool was drained to accommodate work that we were doing, it is 3 feet at one end and 6 feet at the other. When Lenny had passed it the water level was 10 inches short of full! I took the photo from the roof. As you can see the water is pretty muddy then we had to drain it again. Look how green the garden is after all that rain. A mess but no serious damage done.

Winds probably peaked at gusts of 70 mph and were short lived so there was almost no wind damage but water constantly washing down hillsides to property in low lying areas was disastrous for some.... temporarily at least.

There was some beach erosion, primarily in the south west but tourists I spoke to seemed very content with what was left.

Power went out in a few areas for a short time but was restored quickly.

There were reports that roads near the airport were underwater, however, planes were arriving within 2 days.

St. John's Harbour was cleared for the arrival of cruise ships which started coming within almost immediately. Ships what normally dock in St. Martin are re-scheduling and diverting to Antigua so we are expecting a small economic boost for a short while until the ships return to St. Martin.

The sea calmed very quickly. Water was cloudy for a few days.

There were reports of mud slides at Horsford Hill, Monks Hill and Falmouth as well as Bolans. One of my employees lives in Bolans and tells me that water overflowed two gullies and a few homes got pretty wet but otherwise damage was light and power has been restored.

Villages in the south (John Hughes, Crabbe Hill, Urlings and Old Road) were hard to reach for a while but already the road at Darkwood has been restored allowing access. Crabbe Hill was already devastated by hurricane Jose and Lenny only made things worse there.

Hodges Bay and Crosbies was wet but undamaged

There were reports of a tornado at Coco Point in Barbuda (see my note about tornadoes in the Falmouth entry below). Barbuda was hit by higher winds than Antigua but I don't have specifics. Only 13 inches of rain fell there. Flooding was reported in Codrington. Barbuda may still without electricity.

Darkwood Beach: was in bad shape. The road was severed and as you can see from this photo (right) the beach bar has been somewhat re-arranged. However the road is already temporarily repaired and cars are getting through to the south again.

Dickenson Bay: suffered a little erosion, mainly in front of Sandals and to the south end.

In Falmouth a tornado reportedly destroyed two homes. Tornadoes are such devastating forces that one has to ask why only two houses might be destroyed... in fact at what point does a water spout become a whirlwind, or a whirlwind become a tornado? Obviously something of the sort occurred there.

Fig tree Drive was blocked. I don't know if its clear yet.

Runaway Bay: Besides the broken road the beach at Runaway faired OK and as the storm settled it became apparent that there is more sand at the north end than was there before.

Residents in Seaview Farm & Lightfoot tell me everything is fine there.

Jolly Roger, Antigua's favorite pirate cruise, faired the storm and is once again taking tourists out for rum drenched parties on the high seas. My friend Steve advises me that the decks are scrubbed, the kegs are un-corked, the stereo is turned up and everything is ship shape!

There was one tragic death. A young woman swept away by flood water who was later found drowned. No words printed here will console her family's grief but all of us at AntiguaToday.com wish to express out condolences for this untimely loss.

 

Hotels

If you want to be notified of updates subscribe to the newsletter below. As you consider the extent of the damage you will see that we have much to be grateful for. It could have been so much worse. Most damage didn't affect tourists or locals once the hard work of the initial clean-up was completed.

The best way to judge the condition of a specific hotel is to ask someone staying there. I try to do just that and you will find a note to that effect where relevant.

Antigua Village: The complex looks just fine. Just needed a clean up. The beach area was battered but nothing long term and less than with Georges last year. Walk a few yards North or South and there's plenty of sand left. Tourists tell me the facility is OK.

Blue Waters Hotel: I have walked through the hotel and it is immaculate. The only sign that they have been visited by a storm was three new beach umbrellas that were being completed where others MAY have been destroyed. Tourists tell me the facility is 100%.. Blue waters is an up market hotel but it would be my #1 recommendation. Blue Waters photos and artwork are featured on our virtual card site.

Carlisle Bay Club I haven't been to the hotel but the landscape there is such that I would not anticipate any water damage. The beach should be fine too.

Colonna Beach Resort: The coastline from Dickenson to the north was protected and is undamaged. I walked around the hotel which is just fine. Tourists tell me the facilities are OK.

Courtlands Hotel: I haven't been in the rooms but the landscape there is such that I would not anticipate any water damage. . There is no beach.

Curtain Bluff. This hotel won't open its doors to tourists unless everything is perfect.

Galleon Beach Tourists tell me the facility is OK.

Galley Bay: was flooded and Antigua Resorts moved guests the Royal Antiguan.... for a short while. Now they have re-opened and tourists tell me the facility is fine.

Hawksbill: Several groups of tourists tell me the facility is in good shape.

Heritage Quay hotel: This is an elevated hotel and I anticipate no significant damage there. There is no beach.

Jolly Beach: Is due to open on the 15th. I understand that still stands. The hotel has been closed for a while due to confusion over various potential buyers but finally a sale has gone through. I can't say what conditions are like until it opens and I can ask some of their guests. I have taken a look at their beach which is still beautiful after Lenny's visit.

Jolly Harbour: had some real problems. The North finger is closed down and home owners there have been moved to the South finger. Flood water did a lot of damage and knocked out the standby generators for the North wing. Unfortunately the switching gear was also submerged and, as the gear operate at 1500 volts, contamination is liable cause an explosion. Without the switching gear they can't turn on government power either! They have moved in a lot of generators and I am told that the south wing is OK now but are unable to run air conditioners (use too much power). The way the terraced houses are built you can usually get a good through breeze. Anyone staying there should check with the tour operator. A lot of mud washed around the place but a major clean-up was soon complete and TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE the interiors of the whole complex are fine. I am sure that anyone booked in at Jolly Harbour will be offered suitable alternative accommodation IF NECESSARY. There are still many places on Antigua which are unaffected by the storm. Water in the harbour was very muddy for a few days but is now clear.

Long Bay Hotel: I haven't been to the property but the beach is very protected. The landscape there is such that there could be water damage but Chris who manages the place is very up front and I'm sure he will give you an honest appraisal. Use the link to access his email address.

Mango Bay: I haven't been in the rooms but tourists tell me the facility is OK. I would not expect any beach erosion.

Paradise Beach Cottages: These inexpensive self contained cottages are undamaged. The sea wall is a bit messy but a few yards north or south and the beach is fine.

Pillar Rock: No damage.

Rex Blue Heron: I haven't been to the property but when this hotel is accepting guests you can count on it being up to spec. There may be some beach erosion but it is still one of the islands best beaches.

Rex Halcyon Cove: The hotel was closed for restoration following hurricane Jose in Oct. It was due to re-open on December first but minor water damage has delayed that to the 15th. This hotel will not open unless everything is up to specification and so I am sure that when they re-open the facility it will be fine.

Royal Antiguan: I have spoken with three separate couples who are staying at Royal and they all tell me that the hotel is in good shape. As usual there have been a few hiccups with the elevator but otherwise operation at the hotel is back to normal. The Andes restaurant has re-opened and the beach is unaffected by the storm. Aircons etc. are running. This is a good, moderately priced option at the current time.

Sandals: Those of us who know Dickenson Bay well can tell that the beach has been eroded in front of Sandals, however, I spoke to some of the guests there and they were perfectly happy with the beach, since they don't know how it was before. The hotel itself (they tell me) is in good shape and they are perfectly happy with their holiday.

Sandpiper: I haven't been to the property but the landscape there is such that I would not anticipate any water damage. I know the beach to be unaffected.

Seaview Hotel: This is an elevated hotel and there will be no significant damage there. There is no beach.

Siboney: Siboney always weathers the storm. I have spoken to tourists staying there who say everything is fine.

Spinnakers Restaurant: The wall of the restaurant helped wash out the sand so erosion there was bad but the restaurant facility is in tact and cleaned up.

The Inn Tourists tell me the facility is OK.

TradeWinds Hotel: Is unaffected by the storm.

Trafalgar Beach: I haven't been to the property but I know the beach to be unaffected.

Yepton's Beach Resort: Hotel and beach are in good shape. Air conditioners were out for a while until APUA replaced a blown transformer but now everything is back to normal. Tourists tell me the facility is OK. This is a very friendly middle priced resort.

more soon....

 

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I took this photo of the sunset at Sandhaven Hotel only 3 days after hurricane Jose ran right over us. As you can see, the sea was calm, the sky was clearing and the experience had done little to lessen our natural beauty. I love this place. Unfortunately, over the past few years, as numerous hurricanes have hurled themselves at us across the Atlantic, we have learned what a bowling pin feels like as the ball rushed headlong down the ally. Will this one get us.... or does it have our neighbor's name in it?

 

What you find here may not always be what you hope for...
but it will be honest, forthright and unsensational.
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