Jamaica spared worst of hurricane (headed into the Gulf?)

[Dover]

Sept. 11, 2004, 9:49AM

Jamaica spared worst of hurricane
Still, Ivan washes away homes and kills 2 more people
By STEVENSON JACOBS
Associated Press

KINGSTON, Jamaica -- Hurricane Ivan lashed Jamaica with monstrous waves, driving rain and winds nearing 155 mph today, killing at least two people as it washed away homes and ripped up roofs and utility poles but unexpectedly spared the island from a direct hit.

A 10-year-old girl drowned in Old Harbor, just east of Kingston, and a woman was killed in the capital by a tree that struck here home, said Ronald Jackson of Jamaica's disaster relief agency.

The two deaths raised the toll from Ivan to 39, most in Grenada, which was devastated when Ivan swept through earlier. The toll was expected to rise since the extent of damage was still unclear, with flooding and debris blocking roads and telephone service patchy.

Jamaica, an island of 2.6 million known for its tourism, reggae and Blue Mountain coffee, was saved the full brunt of Ivan's fury by an unexpected wobble and lurch to the west overnight.

The change in course could be good news for hurricane-weary Florida, since Ivan may now head into the Gulf of Mexico. Forecasters warned it could still move back to its predicted course and hit the state

cont'd

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/page1/2789244

[shanti]

1. give thanks!

i watched the live satellite up until midnite last nite and even then it was "wobbling" away from jamaica. i'm not a religious person, but i believe in god and some things just have to be attributed to divine intervention. the damage was bad enough without the direct hit, but if it had been hit, the damage would have been unbelievable.

thanks for posting this update. :kick:

[Jacobin]

2. Or steering winds

whatever

[timtom]

4. Jacobin, I'm curious...

"Or steering winds"

How did you mean that?

[Scootman78]

8. Steering winds are more likely to steer hurricanes

I'm not speaking for Jacobin, but I am speaking for myself, a Central Floridian (town called Lakeland, between Orlando & Tampa).

I don't believe God doesn't tell hurricanes, tornados, or any other weather patterns where to go.

That would be like God saying, "I don't want you to be harmed by the hurricane, so I'll just send it over to another state where the people there will be seriously harmed. Well I have to be going, its time for me to go wreak havoc on those that didn't pray as hard as you."

Not a very cool thing to say now is it?

As somebody who lives near the 'X' mark for Hurricane Charley and Frances, I can tell you with upmost certainty that most folks around here believe winds direct hurricanes to a certain location, not divine intervention. The last thing people around here want to believe is that God is out for them because he keeps sending hurricanes here.

Ivan looks to be going more towards the other states, but hurricane season is only half-way over. :(

[Chico Man]

9. Ask the Jamaicans what they think happened

[Zynx]

10. The voodoo, mon

n/t.

[rppper]

3. i dont care where it hits, as long as it isn't central florida

i live in daytona beach....2 storms in 3 weeks is plenty...i am still without power from frances....8 days and counting...i would prefer it hit somewhere remote, but anywhere else but here is fine for the moment....

sounds crass???....try the florida summer heat and humidity without an a/c or even a fan...try buying new groceries every two weeks...i am over the thrill of a good hurricane...time for someone else to deal with it. been there...got the t-shirt.....

[shadu]

6. I cannot live without ice cubes

must have ice cubes

[Dover]

5. Updated map:

[Chico Man]

7. Panama City, Pensacola, Ft Walton Beach, Tallahassee heads Up! (nt)