Earl fails to show

LIKE Hurricane Bret over a decade ago, the threat of Tropical Storm Earl wreaking havoc on Trinidad and Tobago caused near paranoia but resulted in nought.  Perhaps this notorious natural disaster somehow heard that the murder rate had climbed to a whopping 162 and that kidnapping had reached an all time high in this country, became afraid and turned back. In 1993, a warning of an impending hurricane was issued by the Meteorological Office, sending members of the public scampering to supermarkets, shops and parlours to stock up on foodstuff, water, candles and miscellaneous items in preparation for the aftermath of Hurricane Bret. But the rebellious hurricane skillfully made its way through the body of water separating the two islands, heading for and eventually battering neighbouring Venezuela, killing hundreds of people and resulting in millions of dollars in damage.

In like fashion, a warning for Tropical Storm Earl was issued at 6 pm on Saturday, causing members of the public to engage in a mad rush to stock up on “storm necessities.” Several supermarkets reported an overwhelming increase in the sale of canned foods, water, candles, batteries and Crix. Scores of people reportedly contracted sudden cases of insomnia in anticipation of the heavy rains and gusty winds, which were expected to erupt at midnight. Their loss of sleep, however, was in vain since Earl was a no-show. A short-lived “drizzle” did not descend until about 6 am yesterday and the Met office lifted the warning at around 11 am. At 1.30 pm yesterday, officials at the Met office told Newsday that a weaker Earl had entered the Caribbean Sea and was located 40km south west of Grenada. 

Earl was, however, predicted to regain its strength within the next 24 hours and was expected to hit the spice island. According to Fire Services officials throughout Trinidad, there were no reports of flooding or any other emergencies which usually accompany the inclement weather brought on by a tropical storm, with the exception of one minor landslip in Cascade. Officers at the Scarborough Fire Station, however, said there were several reports of fallen trees in Mt Irvine, Old Grange Inn, Plymouth, Pleasant Prospect, Sou Sou Lands and Store Bay Branch Road.  TTEC officials also reported that some areas of Tobago had been left without electricity.