Leighton Williams, Staff Reporter

Muriel McCarthy says the National Arena was a safe to staying home. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Muriel McCarthy and her cousin Rachel Taylor left nothing to chance on Sunday night when she and her cousin moved into the National Arena as they prepared for Hurricane Dean.

McCarthy, in her '70s, sat in her wheelchair and watched as several children kicked a tennis ball and shouted.

"I live with my cousin and where I am is not so safe in Port Royal, and since they told us to come here, I came with my cousin who lives with me," she said.

Her cousin was lying on a cot sleeping, cuddled in a corner to keep warm.

"Mi an' her a di same age an' is only the two of us, so we moved in here," she said.

"So far, it all right," Muriel said. "We've been here since Saturday night and it has been okay. Right now I'm a bitworried about where we live, but I know the neighbours will look after it. We just leave because it wasn't safe for just the two of us," she said.

Cancer patient

They were not the only family who sought shelter in the National Arena. Cancer patient Patricia Riley said she, her male friend and two children came to the National Arena because her home was not safe.

"I live off Windward Road and because I'm not so well and the house have a leak, I decided to come here to be safe. My son lives nearby, so he will give an eye," she said, cuddling her daughter.

Other residents in the centre came from areas such as Yallahs, Bull Bay and Kingston.

"Our area (Bull Bay) is flood prone, so we wanted to be safe, and as a result wi come here because mi caan tek di flood," said an evacuee.

Meanwhile, members of the Red Cross who were monitoring the shelter said up to midday yesterday 91 persons had taken refuge in the shelter. The numbers were expected to increase. However, officials sought to assure that adequate supplies were stocked.

leighton.williams@gleanerjm.com