Members of the Little Cayman community cleaning the beach Photo Credit: Deborah P. Truchan

Recovery efforts are in full swing across Little Cayman, as government agencies and private sector partners work tirelessly to restore normalcy following Hurricane Rafael’s impact last week. The coordinated efforts have resulted in significant progress in rebuilding and strengthening community resilience, due to the dedication of local residents and response teams.

 Cayman Islands Regiment Officer clearing fallen tree from roadway. Photo credit: CI Regiment

Road-clearing operations began on Wednesday, 6 November, after the All Clear was issued. The District Administration Office, Cayman Islands Regiment officers stationed on Little Cayman during the storm joined forces with local residents to remove debris and fallen trees from the roads.

On the following day, members of Hazard Management Cayman Islands, Caribbean Utilities Company Limited, and additional officers from the Regiment conducted initial damage assessments. Cayman Airways also worked to evacuate visitors.

Utilities technician repairing power line. Photo credit: HMCI

The reopening of the Little Cayman Post Office as well as some local businesses has helped to bring back a sense of normalcy.

District Commissioner for Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, Mark Tibbetts, expressed his gratitude for the community’s resilience and the unwavering commitment of those involved in the restoration efforts.

“We are extremely grateful to everyone who has diligently worked to get our island back on its feet,” said Mr Tibbetts. “It has been heartening to see everyone come together, and we remain committed to strengthening our community as we move forward from Hurricane Rafael.”

 Members of the Little Cayman community repairing a local dock, one board at a time. Photo Credit: Jen Mills, Southern Cross Club

The Little Cayman community has worked tirelessly over the past week to recover and prepare for reopening in time for the peak tourist season. Volunteers from the Community Emergency Response Teams and Rotary also contributed to the cleanup efforts.

Several agencies have directly contributed to the recovery efforts on Little Cayman, including the Cayman Islands Regiment, Public Works Department, Hazard Management Cayman Islands, Cayman Islands National Weather Service, Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, Island Energy, Caribbean Utilities Company Limited and the Department of District Administration.

Cleanup efforts at Southern Cross Club. Photo Credit: Jen Mills, Southern Cross Club

Progress on infrastructure has been promising. Roads are now cleared, power has been fully restored and continuous efforts are being made to assess and repair any remaining storm damage. The collective commitment of government and private partners underscores the island’s focus on building a stronger, more resilient Little Cayman that is better prepared for future events.