As reports of more than 600 deaths in Haiti following Tropical Storm Jeanne begin to arrive, Seventh-day Adventists in the Caribbean are cleaning up after last week’s weather disaster, Hurricane Ivan.

For that storm, the death toll of at least 70 in the Caribbean and 40 in the United States, the number of Adventist Christians in the region who perished in the hurricane’s wake has risen to three. The hurricane also destroyed churches and schools and affected many church members’ homes.

In Jamaica, the hurricane’s pounding rains left one elderly church member dead in a generator-related accident, damaged the roofs and/or flooded more than 120 church buildings, closed the Adventist university for one week, and crippled electricity and communications throughout the island.

According to Leon B. Wellington, vice president of the church in Inter-America, who toured the country Sept. 17 to 19, the devastation to Jamaica was visible in every community.

“Some of our church buildings were partially demolished and have sustained flood damage,” says Wellington. Churches that were not affected are being used as shelters.

Northern Caribbean University, which has more than 5,000 students enrolled throughout its campuses, sustained damage to the chapel roof and preschool and left the institution without electricity for a week. Partial classes resumed on Sept. 19 with the help of generators. A return to a full class schedule is expected soon.

Wellington says that in spite of the effects of Hurricane Ivan, the church is moving strong to provide relief and restore some normal life to its community members. In a country where one out of every 12 people is an Adventist, Wellington says, “The majority of the churches are being used as registration centers for community members who need relief and counseling.” Church members there are thankful for being spared a worse storm.

The Cayman Islands experienced Hurricane Ivan’s 160 mph wind gusts and downpours for more than 15 hours on Sept. 11, crushing homes and flooding the islands. Ten out of the 11 Adventist churches sustained damage. Fortunately, no deaths were reported among Adventists, according to Jeff Thompson, local president of the church.

“Some homes were under 20 feet of water, where there was no elevation. People had to climb onto their roofs,” says Thompson, whose home was not spared.

“I had to cut a hole in the ceiling of my home because water was waist-high” says Thompson. He adds that his automobile was submerged in eight feet of flood water. He is not alone. Every pastor’s house sustained damage and roads were submerged, which complicated efforts to reach church members.

However, Thompson met with all pastors last week for damage assessment and to organize efforts to provide generators for all churches.

Three churches were able to hold Sabbath services on the morning of Sept. 18 and weekly evening services will resume after the island’s curfew is lifted. All churches are expected to hold Sabbath services on Sept. 25, according to Thompson.

The church headquarters in Georgetown in Grand Cayman sustained minimal roof damage, as did the Adventist school there. Although most government schools will resume classes in January, the Adventist school is expected to resume its regular schedule in mid-October.

Thompson says a shipment of water, food and relief supplies is expected to arrive later this week from the Adventist church less affected in the neighboring island of Cayman Brac. The Adventist Development and Relief Agency, ADRA, is coordinating efforts to provide necessary items to the victims of the hurricane. Plans are also in place to repair church members’ homes as soon as electricity is restored.

Grenada, which was the worst hit earlier this month (see ANN, Sept.14), is still with little running water and no electricity. The government is still keeping a daily curfew of 5 p.m., and the outlying villages are still difficult to reach because of debris.

Humanitarian activitiers in the Caribbean and Grenada have been launched, seeking to ensure people receive necessary water and food supplies. Relief efforts are continuing for the island.

ADRA said it will distribute more than 22,000 pounds of medicines and medical supplies, scheduled to arrive in Jamaica tomorrow, to facilities assisting those injured by Hurricane Ivan.

The supplies, provided by AmeriCares and valued at more than U.S. $183,000, include antibiotics, intravenous (IV) solutions, nutritional supplements, rehydration solutions, vitamins, and first aid supplies. They will be distributed to Andrews Memorial Hospital in Kingston and shared with other facilities, including 10 clinics serving more than one million persons in the eastern region and clinics in Spanish Town and Kingston.

These medical supplies are in addition to the nearly 150,000 pounds of food boxes, hygiene kits, and other relief supplies airlifted to Kingston yesterday by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that are also being distributed by ADRA.

Other islands in the Caribbean, such as Cuba, have been affected by hurricanes Frances and Ivan during the past weeks, and more disaster struck with Tropical Storm Jeanne, which also pounded Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, as well as Haiti. The hurricane season does not officially end until late in November.

For additional information or to make a monetary donation to assist those affected by the recent hurricanes, donate online at www.adra.org.