Tendai Franklyn-Brown, Staff Reporter

As heavy rains lashed the Corporate Area yesterday, several homes were flooded. This section of McGregor Gully in east Kingston was washed away by flood waters recently. The area again faced problems as sandbags, used to control the flow of water, were washed away. - Norman Grindley/Acting Photography Editor

Residents of 1st and 4th avenues at McGregor Gully, St Andrew, looked on in disbelief yesterday as water coursed over the broken gully and into dozens of homes.

Jacquline Grant, dressed in her work uniform with her children in tow, was clearly in shock as she watched the crowd and the water.

"Right now, I feel very disturbed. When I saw the crowd, I was wondering what's going on," she told The Gleaner. "And now that I see this, after coming home from work, I can't go down. I have to wait until the water washes off."

Sandbags gone

Sandbags, which have lined the gully since Tropical Storm Gustav struck the island in August, were washed away after heavy rains fell yesterday afternoon.

Most homeowners in the area were beginning to recover from the devastating effects of the storm, which caused major flooding across the eastern parishes.

Resident Patreka Walker told The Gleaner that she swiftly vacated her home, with her daughter and cousin, seeking safety after water levels rose when a nearby tree fell and broke the wall of the gully.

"About 3:30 p.m. the rain was coming down, but not heavily. Then the water reached a little higher before the tree stump burst the gully, shifting the sandbags," she said.

tendai.franklyn-brown@gleanerjm.com