| FROM - Jamaica
Observer THE devastation caused by Hurricane Dean along
several coastline communities in Portland and St Thomas on
Sunday began to emerge yesterday as residents began to
assess the damage to their flattened houses and small
business establishments that were smashed by storm surges
associated with the powerful storm.
To the hundreds of affected families, Dean was the worst
hurricane they had ever experienced. They said waves, as
high as 10 feet, "came out of nowhere" and took everything
in their path, regardless of size, depositing them elsewhere
or simply taking them out to sea.
"I think we had a small tsunami or a tidal wave because we
have never ever seen such big waves with any of the other
hurricanes," said Dwight Burnett, a resident of Manchioneal
in Portland.
Manchioneal residents pointed to a large container which the
waves took from its stand and deposited against a business
place across the street.
Muddy television sets and refrigerators were scattered all
about the coastal town, while some residents pointed to
where they once called home. For some, the flooring was the
only reminder of the spot where their houses stood.
Category four Hurricane Dean sideswiped Jamaica's south
coast Sunday night with maximum sustained winds of near 240
kmh (150 mph).
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