Excerpts from an AP article:

Ike damages 80 percent

of Grand Turk homes

'They got hit really, really bad,' says island nation's premier Michael Misick


Turks and Caicos premier Michael Misick said Ike damaged 80 percent of the homes on the main island and that hundreds lost their roofs as the hurricane made a near-direct hit. People have been cowering in closets and under stairwells and "just holding on for life. They got hit really, really bad," he told The Associated Press Sunday morning.

Grand Turk, the capital of Turks and Caicos, is home to about 3,000 people, and has little natural protection from the sea and expected storm surge of up to 18 feet. Rain was driving through in horizontal sheets early Sunday and wind was tearing through some roofs. It was too early to know of any deaths or injuries.

The airport in Providenciales closed after thousands of tourists and residents of the typically tranquil island chain evacuated.

FULL ARTICLE HERE: 80 percent of Grand Turk homes damaged - - MSNBC.com

Register At CruiseLineFans.com For Free