Hurricane Ivan lost its catastrophic capabilities as it skirted Grand Cayman today, but it still uprooted trees, burst the banks of canals and flooded some homes with winds nearing 250 kilometres per hour.
The hurricane had grown to a rare top-Category 5 storm with 265kph winds yesterday but it lost some strength today as it approached the Cayman Islands, which appeared likely to escape its full force.
Ivan is still capable of causing tremendous damage and could again strengthen.
Millions more people are in its path, with a projected direct hit on Cuba before it moves into the Gulf of Mexico or hits South Florida.
The storm has killed 56 people across the Caribbean so far this week, including 34 in Grenada and 11 in Jamaica.
The storm smashed into Jamaica early yesterday with ferocious waves and winds but it stalked Jamaica's southern coast, never directly hitting the island, and may do the same with the Caymans.
"There's a possibility the eye may also skirt the Caymans as well," said meteorologist Jennifer Pralgo at the US National Hurricane Centre in Miami.
The storm could dump up to 30 centimetres of rain, possibly causing flash floods and mud slides, the Hurricane Centre said.
In Cuba, President Fidel Castro said the government was doing everything it could to save lives and property. "This country is prepared to face this hurricane," Castro said on state television.
Forecasters warned that Ivan could strike Florida, where buildings in the Keys were mostly boarded up, deserted by evacuating residents and tourists. Ivan is approaching hard on the heels of hurricanes Charley and Frances.
Hundreds of Caymanians fled aboard 10 charter flights scheduled for an evacuation. Most of the 150 residents of Little Cayman evacuated to Grand Cayman, and about 755 people on Cayman Brac - more than half the population - and more than 600 people on the main Grand Cayman island moved into shelters, officials reported.
The British territory has about 45,000 residents.