Roy Sanford, Staff Reporter

WESTERN BUREAU: MONTEGO BAY showed signs of returning to normal on Sunday, hours after Hurricane Ivan lashed the island.

During a tour of the city and several of its adjoining communities by a Gleaner news team, very little structural damage was seen; vegetation appeared to have suffered the most.

Many persons were observed clearing scattered debris in their yards and placing it in neat piles on the streets.

Some supermarkets were open and at the Charles Gordon Market vendors were out in their numbers but, very few shoppers were seen.

The Burger King outlet on Gloucester Avenue, also known as the 'Hip Strip,' opened its doors to the public at noon while the Kentucky Fried Chicken facility on Howard Cooke Boulevard opened at 3:00 p.m. Gas stations were opened but were plagued by long lines.

Electricity was restored in several sections of the 'Second City' about 4:00 p.m. yesterday, according to Cathy Cooke, spokeswoman for the Jamaica Public Service Company's western office.

EMERGENCY SHELTERS

A check of several emergency shelters revealed that most people who sought shelter there had returned home, except the one located at the Albion Primary and All-Age School.

Michael Jones, security officer at the institution, said that food was running low there and appealed for assistance. He said that Dr. Horace Chang, Deputy Leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), donated food but he said it was not sufficient. He complained that about 100 persons in the shelter had to relocate to another section of the building during the height of the storm as the roof was blown away. "The people them had to run out with zinc flying around like saucers," he said. "What kind of shelter they are giving people?"

REFUGE

Custodian of the Corinaldi Avenue All-Age School, Lindsey Kirkham said that at least 350 persons had sought refuge at the institution but everyone went home by Saturday evening. He said that the food was the only problem that the shelter experienced.

Mr. Kirkham said that only four classrooms were made available for shelter but up to 15 had to be opened because of the large number of persons who turned out.

At the Cornwall Regional Hospital, a large section of the canteen was damaged, but otherwise the institution was not affected. "We have been operating on our own power for the past two days," said Clinton Pickering, spokesman for the Western Regional Health Authority. "In preparation for the storm, non-critical patients were sent home while 180 patients were allowed to stay and some had to relocate to lower floors during the storm."

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