HEAVY RAINS and strong winds from tropical storm Isidore shut down offices, banks and commercial establishments in the Corporate Area by midday yesterday.
Some companies stayed open with skeleton staff, as did some supermarkets which reported higher than usual sales, as householders stocked up supplies.
Fast food establishments said sales were basically at normal levels. However, the banks did reduced business, closing at about noon, curtailing trading on the foreign exchange market. The summary of the day's activity was unavailable up to late afternoon.
The stock exchange, which usually ends trading at around midday, had a full day, but at the close of business, the market was down 207.56 points. The value of the day's trades was the lowest for the week at $7.43 million, compared to Monday's $15.59 million and Tuesday's $19.99 million.
Marcus Garvey Drive was under several feet of water and the usual touts offering to help stranded motorists for a fee turned out in dozens.
Police who responded to complaints from motorists in the area, reported that there were about five hold-ups at gunpoint and after several calls, Senior Superintendent Reneto Adams and his Crime Management Unit (CMU) swooped down, scattering the crowd by firing warning shots and teargas in the air and making several arrests.
Hagley Park Road near Three Miles was also heavily flooded.
Elaine Black and her family had barely recovered from the heavy rains which flooded out their homes in May, when another heavy downpour yesterday left damage estimated at over $1 million.
This is according to one family member who pointed to damaged furniture, electrical appliances, clothing and a perimeter wall, partially broken down, at their residence in Nine Miles, Bull Bay, St. Andrew.
