Ocho Rios, St Ann – Most residents in this north coast resort town awoke this morning relieved that the devastation forecasted to occur during the passage of Hurricane Dean did not materialise.

Sunday night’s high winds accompanied by intermittent showers lashed most sections of the parish but most residents who spoke with the Observer expressed both relief and gratitude that the damage was by no means what it could have been.

There were no immediate reports of injuries although several houses were damaged during the night.

Parish Disaster Co-ordinator Alvin Clarke told the Observer that several houses in the southern section of the parish – Cascade, York and Boro Bridge – were damaged. Clarke also said that there were unconfirmed reports that houses in the Roaring River community near Ocho Rios were damaged.

Meanwhile, the Observer was also informed that several fallen trees had blocked major roadways in the parish. In St Ann’s Bay, Top Road was rendered impassable by a downed utility pole. However, early this morning sections of the Priory to Bamboo main road were cleared as well as sections of the Breadnut Hill main road.

In Ocho Rios, People’s National Party (PNP) candidate for North East St Ann, Oswest Senior-Smith, and a team of his supporters were seen clearing Milford Road after a willow tree on the premises of the old courthouse fell and rendered the road impassable.

Senior-Smith also said that he and his team would be travelling to other areas to render whatever assistance they could.

In the meantime, a large tree fell across the Lime Hall to St Ann’s Bay main road but motor cars were able to travel beneath its branches without hindrance.

Reports coming out of St Mary were that sections of the main road from Junction to Broadgate were blocked by fallen trees. No telephone contact could be made with other sections of the parish to determine the extent of any other damage caused by Hurricane Dean. The Observer team travelled as far as Boscobel and encountered no blockages throughout.

Additionally, hotels in the parish escaped with only minor damage from Hurricane Dean. A gazebo at the Breezes Runaway Bay Hotel was blown away.