Local divers, who usually assist with rescue efforts after accidents at the Flat Bridge, east central St. Catherine, wait yesterday for the body of a man who was riding in a Chevrolet van which plunged into the Rio Cobre on Wednesday, to surface. The driver had failed to negotiate a turn while approaching the bridge. Two of the three occupants were rescued, but the third was swept away by the strong currents. - Rudolph Brown/Staff Photographer Some of the damage done islandwide as a result of the May 23 to 30 flood rains.
IMPACT
Clarendon, St. Ann, St. Catherine, Kingston and St. Andrew, Manchester, St. Elizabeth and St. Thomas have been affected. The worst affected parish was Clarendon and to a lesser extent St. Catherine and Manchester.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Eleven of the 14 parishes have suffered heavy damage to infrastructure, housing, water supply systems, electricity and agriculture. Several roads, both main roads and Parish Council roads, were impacted as a result of the flood rains which pelted the island, uprooting trees, smashing road surfaces and weakening bridges. Some 60 roadblocks from flooding and landslides were reported throughout the island, hampering both private and public transportation. The total cost of damage has not yet been computed but a comprehensive estimate is to be provided by the National Works Agency.
HOUSING
Several hundred housing units have been affected.
WATER
Two days ago, the National Water Commission (NWC) set a preliminary assessment of damage at just over $56 million. The figure represented direct costs related to physical damage to pipelines and blocked intake works, and was confined to those systems that were accessible to NWC personnel. Up to Monday, Clarendon's damage was estimated at $18 million, St. James's at $2.5 million, Trelawny's at $3 million and St. Ann's at $5 million.
LIGHT
The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPSCo) suffered damage mainly in seven parishes - Kingston and St. Andrew, St. Thomas, Portland, St. Mary, Clarendon and Manchester. Electricity distribution and generation problems, aggravated in part by the bad weather, have left sections of the island without power since the past week.
TELEPHONE
Cable and Wireless Jamaica Ltd. (C&W) has reported that it has suffered damage mainly to utility poles and lines. The major damage occurred in the Golden Grove area of St. Thomas, where almost a mile of poles and cables were lost. Other areas that suffered damage included Lawrence Tavern, St. Andrew, Ocho Rios, St. Ann and Danvers Pen, St. Thomas. About 3,900 customers are without telephone service in the areas mentioned.
AGRICULTURE
Extensive damage to small livestock, in particular poultry, has been reported. The major areas affected have been Osbourne Store, Clarendon, where poultry farmers have reported millions of dollars in losses. No official report has yet been submitted to the Agriculture Ministry.
HEALTH
Several hospitals were affected to varying degrees during the flooding which affected 10 parishes. The cost of meeting the immediate health needs amounts to $20.5m
CASUALTIES
There have been nine fatalities caused by the flood rains to date.
WELFARE
More than 110 families are in shelters in Clarendon and Manchester - two of the worst-hit parishes. Several other persons who have been washed out have had to be staying with relatives. Welfare assessments have begun in all parishes.
SHELTERS
CLARENDON:
Halse Hall Basic School
Osbourne Store Open Bible Church
Toll Gate Church of God
Toll Gate Seventh-Day Adventist Church
Hopewell Church of Christ
MANCHESTER
Broadleaf New Testament Church
ST. THOMAS
Copper Lane Church
Parish disaster co-ordinators are:
CLARENDON
Nether Lyttle
Seven Road, May Pen
Tel: 986-2216/2234
Fax: 986-9583
Police, May Pen: 986-2208
HANOVER
Margaret Samuels
Church Street, Lucea
Tel: 956-2305/2236
Fax: 956-2958
Police, Lucea: 956-2333
KINGSTON &
ST. ANDREW
Isaac Nugent
65 Hanover Street
Tel: 967-3329
Fax: 967-3329
MANCHESTER
Merdella Pryce O'Gilvie
32 Hargreaves Avenue
Mandeville
Tel: 962-2279-9
Fax: 962-0611
Police: Mandeville: 962-2250
PORTLAND
Faye Neufville
1 Gideon Avenue
Port Antonio P.O.
Tel: 993-2656/2765
Fax: 993-3188
Police, Port Antonio:
993-2546
ST. ANN
Alvin Clarke
Administrative Office
St. Ann's Bay
Tel: 972-2615-6
Fax: 972-2617
Police, St. Ann's Bay:
972-2211
ST. CATHERINE
E. Mundell
Emancipation Square
Spanish Town
Tel: 984-3111-2/907-0296
Fax: 984-2528
Police, Spanish Town:
984-2305
ST. ELIZABETH
Yvonne Morrison
58 High Street
Black River
Tel: 634-0768/965-2256
Fax: 965-2776
Police, Black River:
965-2232
ST. JAMES
O. Faye Headley
19a Union Street
Montego Bay
Tel: 954-5500-2
Fax: 952-4066
Police, Montego Bay:
952-2333
ST. MARY
Secretary Manager
Old House Assembly
Tel: 994-2178/2212/2648
Fax: 994-2372
Police, Port Maria:
994-2223:
ST. THOMAS
Millicent Blake
4 South Street
Morant Bay
Tel: 982-2227/2276
Fax: 982-2513
Police, Morant Bay:
982-2233
TRELAWNY
Verna Small
Water Square
Falmouth
Tel: 954-3228/4838
Fax: 954-5592
Police, Falmouth: 954-3222
WESTMORELAND
Hilma Tate
Great George's Street
P.O. Box 1
Savanna-la-Mar
Tel: 955-2655/2798
Fax: 955-2797
Police, Savanna-la-Mar:
955-2536
