Neville Paul, Gleaner Writer
ST. ELIZABETH:
TWO SHOPS were destroyed, several persons trapped and an entire community cut off to vehicular traffic as rains associated with Hurricane Wilma continued to affect St. Elizabeth yesterday.
In Arlington, a community located in the southwestern section of the parish, five families evacuated their homes and sought shelter with relatives and friends as a result of flooding on Tuesday night.
EMERGENCY SHELTERS
Yvonne Morrison, disaster coordinator for St. Elizabeth told The Gleaner, yesterday, that emergency shelters in the parish have not been activated as flood victims prefer to stay with friends or relatives.
"We have a lot of water on the roads but there has been minimal damage to homes," Ms. Morrison said. "As a result I have not activated any shelters because persons who are being affected prefer to go and stay with their relatives instead of a shelter."
On Tuesday night, a group of workers from Tranquillity Bay were marooned as the roadway leading to Treasure Beach broke into two. They were assisted by Felton Brown, parish manager for the National Irrigation Commission, who drove a vehicle to transport them to safety.
SHOPS DAMAGED
In northern St. Elizabeth, two shops in Maggotty were damaged by an uprooted tree, which sent sections into the raging Maggotty River.
The National Works Agency has advised that roadways leading from Black River to Mountainside were flooded at Fullerswood. Motorists had to use the alternative route of Black River via Pondside to Williamsfield.
The carriageway from Pedro Cross to Southfield was broken at Flagaman and the Vineyard area was cut off to vehicular traffic owing to the high volume of water.
