Floods again! Portland Cottage braces for the worst
published: Sunday | July 3, 2005

Tyrone Reid, Staff Reporter

RESIDENTS OF flood-prone Portland Cottage in south-east Clarendon, many of whom are yet to recover from the devastating blows of Hurricane Ivan last September, received another trouncing from unrelenting rainfall up to yesterday.

As the water rose, several houses were flooded and some thoroughfares, including the road to Milk River in the parish, were inundated.

Reports from the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) indicated that sections of the very vulnerable Portland Cottage were flooded out and approximately 20 families were seriously affected. According to the Parish Disaster Committee in Clarendon, efforts had to be made to evacuate persons to the Portland Cottage Community Centre.

Sergeant Paul Bernard confirmed that residents were evacuating the low-lying areas. A worried Sgt. Bernard feared the worst if the seemingly unrelenting rainfall continues.

"If it happens (rains) for another three hours, it is stress. Already there is a whole lot of water, even in places that 'Ivan' did not touch," he emphasised

When The Sunday Gleaner visited the area yesterday, the scary scenes screamed help. Several houses resembled tiny islands in the midst of dirty, deep pools.

Dahlia Sinclair, who was marooned by the floodwaters, spoke to the news team from her neighbour's veranda. The small shack, she, her children and an elderly woman called home, barely remained intact during the passage of 'Ivan', but this weekend's stubborn rainfall delivered the knockout punch.

Now, the mother of six is in a quandary. "I have lost my bed and clothes. I did not loose any furniture because I did not buy back any after 'Ivan' destroyed the ones I had," she said as two of her children stood helplessly by her side. After 'Ivan' she was forced to send three of her children to stay with other relatives.

Ms. Sinclair is making a desperate plea for help. "We are appealing to the relevant authorities to help us, as we need help. This terrible ... All tonight, we nuh know what a go happen," she said.

Ms. Sinclair told The Sunday Gleaner that she was among those holding on to the promise of a new home under the Government programme through the Office of National Reconstruction (ONR), but she is yet to see any progress.

HOUSE RAVAGED

The home of Ralford Sinclair was also flooded. The waters from the unending rainfall, he said, ravaged his house and 'stole his sweet rest'. "Everything flat ... Water came right through. The whole night we couldn't sleep, we had to be moving around," he bemoaned as he stood in middle of the flooded road. He too is begging the Government to deliver on their promise. "... Hurry up with the houses because we need to go on the heights."

While the threatening waters visibly troubled some residents, others were unperturbed. Kenrick Hamritt, who lives with his wife and nine children, said the rising flood waters that had already swallowed his kitchen did not scare him. "We can swim," he said with a defiant chuckle.

Mr. Hamritt told The Sunday Gleaner that he was not prepared to evacuate his dwelling just because of floodwaters. "The water nuh trouble we, only the storm. All we have to do is just stay inna we house," he said.

Mr. Hamritt's brother, Gerald, is also unmoved by the rising waters. However, his frustration was evident, as this latest flooding has left him cursing his luck. "I want to sell my house and move to higher ground but no one will purchase it," he lamented.