Hurricanes, hurricanes, hurricanes – These systems are the norm for the Caribbean and are known to beat a seasonal track across the Atlantic Ocean during the months of June to November. The path of these events usually span the Caribbean region from the Greater Antilles in the area of Jamaica, south to the islands of Trinidad and Tobago. From the time of European settlement, documented history has reported the devastation and resulting havoc that was unleashed on any landmass in the path.
The modern practice of naming hurricanes officially began in 1953, when the National Weather Service formalized the process making it easier to track if there was more than one hurricane in an area within the same season. It started with the use of female names in alphabetical order and in 1979 male names were added to the list. Today, for the Atlantic area, a committee of meteorologists of the World Meteorological Organization maintains six lists of twenty-one names each, which are cycled yearly. These names must be short, distinctive and relevant to the cultural and geographic area in which they are used. This makes it easier for the hurricanes to be identified by the authorities and remembered by the people.
As a category three hurricane, the eye of Hurricane Janet passed south of Barbados on the morning of September 22, 1955, with winds clocked at 120 mph on the southern and eastern areas of the island. These areas suffered significant wind damage compared to the northern and western parishes. The events of this hurricane remain in the living consciousness of the Barbadian society, where stories of experiences during this hurricane continue to be told.
An eight-year-old girl living in the Britton’s Hill area at the time, told how their small wooden house lost its roof, which came off and sat between the house and another structure. Luckily, prior to the hurricane her mother had brought her and her sister to seek refuge in the stronger rubble stone house of the next-door neighbour. Many other neighbours followed suit and rode out the storm there. However, her great grandmother remained in the small wooden kitchen off their house and prayed throughout the ordeal. Miraculously, the kitchen remained intact. She also spoke of the galvanize being carried by the wind and was terrified when one sheet struck the standpipe, sending the water gushing up into the air like a fountain.
An eleven-year-old boy in the same area recounts the announcement on Rediffusion alerting the population about the impending hurricane. He also recalled that the chickens went to roost in the trees early in the day and the dogs were incessantly barking and howling. As the storm intensified, the roof started to shake, and his grandfather and aunt took rope and tied the gable to help secure it. He recounted the situation as terrifying, as him and six other family members hunkered down in that small wooden house and his father who was a seaman was away. However, as the winds got stronger the house held but the outdoor kitchen lost its roof which made its way from McClean’s Gap and was later found in Culloden Road. The neighbour’s house was taken completely off its props and deposited it in the road.
During the aftermath, electricity and water services were lost and the Redifusion connection was down for some time. His family was able to get water from the more affluent neighbours. Trees were uprooted, the bus service was interrupted, much galvanize was lost, which people went around collecting and sold, and those who didn’t have galvanize around their houses before the hurricane ended up with some after. The situation was chaotic as people were wandering around and trying to come to grips with the situation.
A fifteen-year-old young man living in Holetown on the west coast, recalled that the conditions on that side of the island paled in comparison to other areas. He reported that there was no significant damage to houses and roads. Most residents especially the women and children, took refuge in the Partish Church and St. James Primary School. There was also storm surge, which caused the commercial jetty to be lost.
Living memory related to the events associated with Hurricane Janet is still very sharp and the emotions attached are also still very apparent in the stories that are told to this day.
https://www.britannica.com/story/how-are-hurricanes-and-typhoons-named