Bradford employer brings home employees stuck in Jamaica

Bradford employer Bumper to Bumper who sent its employees on vacation in Jamaica is expecting the remaining four to come home Monday night.

One of the employees in the group, Chris Sands, along with his pregnant wife, and six co-workers took cover in their hotel rooms when the hurricane hit in Jamaica and hoped for the best.

He says, “Originally, we thought it was just going to a tropical storm and it turned into a full blown category five hurricane.”

• Simcoe County residents worry for loved ones in Jamaica

“It was intense. There were roofs coming apart, trees coming out, branches everywhere, the pools were a mess, chairs in the pools. By the end, the pools looked like a swamp.”

Fortunately, the group of visitors from Bradford were okay and uninjured.

Bumper to Bumper employer Mike McGraw said, “When they called me sitting on the plane on the tarmac before they took off, it was just a great feeling. And to know that the flights for the other four were booked.”

• Bradford business employees stuck as hurricane batters Jamaica

Bradford councillor and business owner Cheraldean Duhaney says she has finally received news from family affected by the hurricane.

She says, “My brother is safe. He phoned me yesterday so we heard from him. My uncle, he is good, yes, but they still don’t have any electricity.”

The clean up and repair of the small country is expected to be long and difficult. To help those effected by the hurricane, Duhaney has started to accept all kinds of donations from people in Simcoe County.

“Non-perishable items, clothing items, so the community is really rallying around, but the need is really, we need help. Jamaica needs help.”

To make a donation for those in Jamaica, drop-off is at 19 Simcoe Street in Bradford. Duhaney says this will be the location until the town is able to find a bigger location.