Former Bollinger County resident holed up in Grenada university

Ivan the Terrible devastated the Caribbean island of Grenada, so a former Bollinger County man is on his way to bring supplies in and his daughter back home.

Jill Jackson, a graduate of Woodland High School, is currently holed up at St. Georges University in Grenada, where she is a veterinary student, in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan.

Her father, David Jackson of Hohenwald, Tenn., and a former city administrator in Marble Hill, Mo., arrived Friday in Miami with a missionary from the United Pentecostal Church's Compassion Services International. He was waiting to hear whether they could arrange a flight to Trinidad and from there either a flight or a boat to Grenada.

According to news reports, most of Grenada has been devastated and at last count 33 people have been killed.

"There has not been a hurricane on the island of Grenada since 1955," David Jackson said. "The people there have always been so blessed because the hurricanes go around them."

Most hurricanes form north of Grenada, he said, so no one was prepared. Ivan blew through Grenada as a Category 5 hurricane, the highest ranking and inspiring the nickname among island residents of Ivan the Terrible. As the hurricane left and headed to Jamaica, Ivan was downgraded to a Category 4 -- with 150 mph winds.

Nearly every utility pole on the island was blown over, but Jill Jackson was able to find a working telephone and call home earlier this week.

David Jackson said that his daughter told him she and some other students were injured by flying glass. Nearly every window at the university was blown out. The university has locked down the campus and not allowed any students to leave.

'In terrible shape mentally'While her father was waiting in Miami, Jill Jackson found another working telephone and called her mother, Marcia Jackson, who relayed the news to other relatives, including Jill's aunt, Marilyn Brown of Jackson.

"She is in terrible shape mentally," Brown said. "I told her to hang loose, her dad is coming. I told her I saw where there is a passenger ferry coming in to take 200 people off the island, and she said, 'But there's 2,000 ready to go.'"

When she talked with her mother Friday Jill Jackson said drinking water is becoming scarce.

David Jackson said he is bringing tarpaulins to cover lost roofs and create temporary shelters. He and the missionary are also bringing bandages and other medical supplies. A medical team under the direction of Compassion Services International has been dispatched, and five doctors from that agency are expected to arrive in Grenada today.

Brown said she is worried about her niece.

"Hopefully she'll settle down a little bit knowing her dad is coming," Brown said. "It's a lot different than something happening in the states. I know if it happened in Florida you know you will have help coming within hours. It's not very easy to get out of Grenada."

Those wishing to donate to Compassion Services International may send contributions to a special fund established for the Caribbean disaster. Contributions may be sent to Compassion Services International, 8855 Dunn Road, Hazelwood, Mo., 63042 and earmark the check "Grenada."

lredeffer@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 160