Businesses based at Southside came out of Hurricane Fabian with little more than a scratch.

Richard Calderon, vice-president of business development and marketing for the Bermuda Land Development Co., told The Royal Gazette that the area sustained some damage during the storm but it was not, for the most part, structural: "There were some leaks in roofs, and we had to (temporarily) relocate a couple of companies, a few signs came down and a few windows were blown out but there was not a lot of damage structurally.

Mr. Calderon added that in spite of the significant damage waged on both St. George's and St. David's by Fabian, Southside had been lucky: "All in all, we took this very well," he said.

Southside, the 435-acre area formerly occupied as a US naval base, is run by BLDC and incorporates a 46-acre business park as well as a residential area and beaches and park land.

Mr. Calderon said initial estimates of damage to the total area stood at $1.5 million.

That total represents a small fraction of the cost put on damage caused by the storm with initial estimates from Bermuda insurers putting claims from the devastating category three hurricane at $75 million and up.

Mr. Calderon added that most businesses based at Southside - including Fort Knox, Bermuda Grocers and TeleBermuda International - were able to re-open for business shortly after the storm.

The area also boasts a grocery store, cinema and bowling alley, all of which Mr. Calderon said had escaped any real damage and were up and running.

However, Mr. Calderon said that two Southside businesses did have to be relocated to temporary quarters after the buildings they occupied sustained roof and/or ceiling damage during Fabian - the Southside Post Office and Southside Office Depot.

But businesses at Southside still may face challenges after Hurricane Fabian with access to the east end currently restricted to daylight hours following the partial collapse of the Causeway Bridge.

Several Southside businesses have scaled back on their operating hours as a result of reconstruction of the Causeway Bridge - Fort Knox, which provides Internet to the Island through FKBnet as well as serving as a secure data storage and server hosting site for Bermuda businesses, said it was closing its offices at 5.30 p.m. as a result of the bridge reconstruction while Southside Family Bowl was closing on week days at 6 p.m.

The bowling alley was, however, open in the evenings on week-end nights. It is also understood that the Clearwater Beach Cafe may be considering closing down for the season after the park and beach area were damaged in the storm. Telephone calls to the beach concession yesterday but were not answered.