Angella Douglas's house, Hazard Drive, near Palmers Cross in Clarendon, which was flooded yesterday. She called the May Pen Fire Department for assistance, but was told that its only unit had broken down while it was on assignment. - Rudolph Brown/Staff Photographer SPALDINGS, Clarendon:
YESTERDAY'S FLOOD rains forced several residents to seek shelter in some schools and did extensive damage to houses, roads and farms in several sections of Clarendon.
Marvalyn Williams-Reid, who resides at Milk River in the parish, was forced to pack all her furniture in a room, as the Scott's Gully overflowed its banks, causing water to flow through her house, damaging several of her belongings.
She told The Gleaner that not only did the water damage some contents of her house, but that it drowned at least 15 of her prize goats.
Several residents were forced to seek shelter at the Toll Gate Primary School after their homes were flooded out.
Up to 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon, several flood victims had complained that they were not getting any assistance from the relevant authorities including the local office with responsibility for disaster preparedness.
Joel Williams, JLP caretaker for the constituency, told The Gleaner that chicken farmers in the Toll Gate area lost thousands of chickens.
Flooding occurred also at Four Paths and the entire stretch of road at Swansea going into Toll Gate. Only large vehicles were able to go through the area.
In the Osbourne Store area, fish ponds overflowed sending young fish onto the main road, providing some amount of excitement for young men who were busy catching them.
Flooding was reported also in Kemps Hill, Rock Road, Berrydale and Race Course as a result of blocked drains.
Flooding occurred also at Palmers Cross and adjoining communities.
In North West Clarendon, several students were prevented from sitting their CXC Examinations as a result of the heavy rains, which resulted in several land slippages. Roads such as those from Spaldings to Alston and from Alston to Silent Hill were blocked up to late afternoon.
The Frankfield-to-Nine Turn, Frankfield-to-Trout Hall, Frankfield-to-Nine Turn-to-Thompson Town, as well as the Frankfield-to-Spaldings roads were also blocked up to late yesterday afternoon.
In another incident, Angella Douglas and four children waited for several hours to be assisted by a Fire Brigade unit from May Pen, Clarendon, after their home on Hazard Drive, near Palmers Cross, was flooded.
At 5.30 p.m. Ms. Douglas, still waiting to be rescued, said she had been told that there was only one fire truck at the May Pen Fire Department and it had gone to Mineral Heights to render assistance but developed mechanical problems there.
The heavy rains not only caused flooding, but contributed to motor vehicle accidents.
Two cars collided on the Bustamante Highway, resulting in four persons, including an infant, suffering injuries. A passenger in one of the vehicles said the car heading towards Kingston drifted into the path of the vehicle travelling towards Clarendon.
"A woman in the car going towards Kingston broke one of her hands," said the passenger.
The flood waters also destroyed thousands of dollars worth of agricultural produce.
