The eye of Hurricane Janet passed just south of the island of Barbados on September 22nd. Maximum winds were estimated at 110 to 120 mph dropping off very rapidly 20 miles out from the edge to the eye. In a short space of time all the island’s communications, electric and telephone services, were at a standstill, and transportation services stopped since all the major roads were blocked by trees and debris.
The hurricane flattened flimsy wooden structures in which the poorer of the island’s 200,000 inhabitants live. Shattered buildings and fallen trees blocked the main highways. Communication lines got damaged and all flights cancelled at the Airport. A state of emergency was declared, Damage occurred to the island’s main source of revenue, sugar cane was estimated by authorities in the millions. Thousands were left homeless after the hurricane.
The worst hit was Christ Church where 10 persons were killed after having rushed to the Gospel Hall for shelter, and the building collapsed. The parishes of St. Lucy, St. Peter, St. James all to the leeward were comparatively undamaged, but the southern parishes especially Christ Church have experienced nightmarish treatment at the hands of Janet.
Source: https://goo.gl/2MhA91, https://goo.gl/xN54RB, https://goo.gl/f7c7XQ