Devon Evans, Gleaner Writer

CAVE VALLEY, St. Ann: A CRISIS has developed in south St. Ann, where an intense emergency operation has been taking place since late Saturday evening to rescue hundreds of residents who are being threatened by rising flood waters.

More than 4,000 people in the Borobridge area of St. Ann have been marooned. This is the result of flood waters, which have cut off access to the area at Spaldings and Trout Hall in Clarendon, and Cave Valley, St. Ann.

The worst affected area is the town of Cave Valley, which is said to be under 15 feet of water, and from which scores of residents have had to be evacuated. The Cave Valley market, the PETCOM service station and several other businesses in the town centre have already been submerged and the rising flood waters threaten other premises.

CLOSE WATCH

The nearby district of Aenon Town, Clarendon, is also being affected by flooding and Disaster Preparedness Committee officials are fearful that there may have to be a massive evacuation of the area if the situation worsens.

Dorothy Delgado, secretary/manager of the St. Ann Parish Council, said that members of the St. Ann Disaster Committee were keeping a close watch on the area.

She said there had been ongoing consultation with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), the security forces, the Fire Department, the St. Ann and Clarendon parish councils and the Ministry of Health on how best to deal with the crisis.

News of the flooding was first reported to the St. Ann emergency operation centre, St. Ann's Bay, about 6:15 p.m. on Saturday, and a rescue team was despatched from the St. Ann Fire Department. Forty-nine persons were rescued by boat and taken to the Clarksonville Primary School.

Since early Sunday morning, larger boats have had to be taken to the deep rural town to assist in the evacuation as more and more houses became threatened.

Mrs. Delgado said arrangements were being made to provide assistance to the residents by way of helicopters So far, public shelters have been opened in the area, but it is difficult to ascertain the total number of persons being housed as the relief team is still out in the field and it is unable to liaise effectively with the emergency centres due to disabled communication services.

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