Jewelry Designer of fine custom
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Hurricane Omar

Firstly we want to thank you for your concern and support. We were very fortunate in that we had no damage and are also thankful that no one suffered serious injury as a result of this storm.

Our power connections are erratic. No..... more like non-existent, which leaves us unable to communicate with you.

This storm started out on Monday and immediately caught the attention of residents who remembered Lenny that came from the "wrong" side, like a scorpion with a sting in the tail. By Wednesday evening, we had prepared for a "hit" of some sort. Unfortunately within a couple of hours Omar was classed as a Category 3 hurricane, which was the last weather update we got at 23h00.

By midnight the winds started picking up, but nothing unusual yet. The rainfall was not excessive, although other areas of the island received torrential downpours. Our power went off at 01h45. The wind was picking up at that stage. An eerie silence fell over the island....not the usual sound of human activity and dogs barking in the distance.

The peak of the storm was between 03h00 and 04h00. There was some rattling and shaking going on with the odd sound of glass breaking every now and then. By and large it was not such a terrifying experience for our first hurricane. The storm moved over us very quickly, which was fortunate because it limited damage. By 05h45, we were wide awake with camera in hand to assess the destruction.

This photo was taken early morning on the Mary's Boon side road leading up to the Airport Boulevard with the runway fence on the left side in the picture. It looks like just another day in paradise....

The sea was still very rough at six in the morning - hard to believe that this is the same bay with picturesque smooth as glass aqua seas. The wall on the right is Horny Toad and in the distant is the Beacon Hill outcrop, where most of the devastation occurred.

...a closer look at Horny Toad wall.

A curfew was enforced in front of our shop until 14h00. It's a clear sunny day with no damage outside...who would've thought that a Cat 3 hurricane passed last night. (Please Officer, please. I only need to get there, Pleeezz.)

By late afternoon our power was back on. But here comes the catch.....only 1 hour. After speaking to friends, we realized that more damage occurred than what we thought at first. Kimsha beach is between Royal Palm and the Dolphin Casino on Airport Boulevard. The sea washed over the road reaching Lee's Grill and The Warf Restaurant.

Bavaria took a beating. That area experienced a mini tornado-whirlwind. ...and so did Caravanserrai Resort experience serious damage. This is a picture of the parking lot. Bliss on the right was completely destroyed.

And so was Sunset Bar and Grill wiped out. This was taken from the Maho Beach at the beginning of the runway.

We count ourselves lucky. Many weren't. We trust that most of those suffering losses will have recovered in time for high season and that on your next visit you will find  paradise as you know it so well.

In gratitude,

Hans and Anne