Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter
These workmen were hard at work cleaning up the mess that was caused by Hurricane Dennis in the Sandy Gully above the bridge on Spanish Town Road on Friday, July 8. - CARLINGTON WILMOT/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
SEVERAL COMMUNITIES in St. Catherine were badly affected by last week's heavy rains from Hurricane Dennis.
Among the most affected was the Nightingale community, off Old Harbour Road.
Reports are that many residents had to evacuate their homes late Thursday evening, after flood waters from a nearby gully steadily climbed to about six feet. Among the worst affected were homes on Oakland Pathway.
"We begun to leave our homes shortly after 6:00 p.m. yesterday, some residents had to stay out on street during the storm, while others were sheltered by neighbours who's houses were not affected," said Jasette Leachman, one of the affected residents.
According to 56-year-old Iris Higgins, who lives with her husband, each time there is heavy rainfall the community is flooded. She says nothing has been done over the past 10 years to correct the problem.
WITHOUT RUNNUNG WATER
Up to yesterday afternoon, the community was without running water. Some residents who washed the thick layers of mud from their homes, had no option but to use the same muddy water which flooded and settled in the streets.
Elsewhere, the Rio Cobre River burst its banks and engulfed a section of the Bog Walk Gorge. The water rose to more than seven feet, making the road impassable.
A number of other major thoroughfares, including sections of Mandela Highway, Portmore Causeway and Old Harbour Road were also flooded.
