Francine Black, Staff Reporter

Cynthia Smith and her grandson try to make Easington Primary School their home away from home. Smith is one of 62 persons who sheltered at the St. Thomas institution. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

STORM SHELTER administrators in southern parishes worked feverishly yesterday to tend to evacuees fleeing the wrath of Hurricane Dean, but efforts were aggravated by food and medication shortages and ramshackled infrastructure.

Norma Sewell, shelter manager at the Easington Primary School in St. Thomas, where about 62 persons had been staying since Saturday, said she needed more food and medication for children.

"We brought some things but it is not enough. We need food and we need like children's Panadol and other medication like that for the children," Sewell said, citing other inconveniences such as the inadequate number of raincoats and water boots.

The persons had been evacuated from Sun Valley, Spring Garden and Easington.

Over at G.C. Foster College in Spanish Town, St. Catherine, residents turned up to find unsecured windows, missing panes and broken doors on classrooms. In addition, shelter manager Winsome Keane-Dawes said the bathrooms were filthy and unfit for use.

At Portland Cottage Primary in Clarendon, Inez Williams, the shelter manager, said persons were arriving faster than expected and they had already surpassed the number of residents expected. The shelter, which can hold 250 persons, had accommodated 226 evacuees when the news team visited. Williams said she had expected 220 persons.

David Dixon, shelter manager for the Bustamante High School in Lionel Town, Clarendon, said more than 100 persons were at the shelter. He said that while the school could accommodate a large number of persons, more help was needed to adequately manage the shelter.

francine.black@gleanerjm.com