Dozens of residents in northeastern Trinidad remained marooned in their homes last evening, following severe flooding as a result of persistent rainfall over the past 24 hours.
The deluge occurred almost one month after the October 19 national flooding which affected over 100,000 households, some of whom are still recovering from the aftermath and are yet to receive Government relief cheques.
The flooding occurred hours after the T&T Meteorological Services (TTMS) on Wednesday advised of adverse weather—a yellow alert—from Wednesday into yesterday.
However, in an advisory yesterday the TTMS placed the weather on “high alert”—orange level—for communities located along Trinidad’s main river courses and associated tributaries with a riverine flood alert ending at 6 pm today.
The T&T Weather Centre reported flooding at Madras Road, St Helena, Guaico Tamana and the Cunupia River reaching its threshold. There were also landslides on the Lady Young Road, Matelot, Toco, Grand Riviere and Matura, while there was a report of a fallen tree damaging a vehicle in Aripo.
The University of West Indies campus also shut down operations to allow students time to get home.
In the midst of the flooding, WASA also advised customers that it had to close nine water treatment plants due to river conditions, clogged intake screens and power failures. The areas affected were in the northeastern region and East Trinidad, where the rain fell heavily.
Despite persistent rains, two communities adversely affected by last month’s flooding, Oropune and Greenvale in La Horquetta, breathed a sigh of relief as the water did not invade homes yesterday.
Greenvale resident Maria St John said although parts of the nearby Manuel Congo River in San Raphael had overflowed its bank the water did not enter their homes.
However, St John said the constant rains created widespread worry, anxiety and panic among residents, triggering her neighbour Makeda Joseph, who is five months pregnant, to move out her few belongings yesterday.
A video on social media showed the Joseph family hastily placing furniture on the back of a truck to get out.
Around 3 pm, ten 25-seater maxi taxis provided by the Housing Development Corporation and several PTSC buses were on standby on Middleton Road to evacuate residents of Greenvale should they need to.
HDC Esate Manger Larry Mc Donald shows the maxi taxis they provided for Greenvale Park, La Horquetta residents who wished to leave their homes yesterday.
KERWIN PIERRE
With the weather refusing to hold up, another resident, Shaka Wallace, said the situation was traumatising.
“We have to go back in that same place. We have to soldier on...but why?”
Having lost everything in the last flood, Wallace said he would have to seek refuge at a relative’s home last night since he did not want to take any chances.
At Oropune Gardens, Kizzy Toppin expressed panic over the rising waters levels.
“I cannot go through this again. I have been praying all day. This is too much stress. It’s like living on the edge,” Toppin said.
Sangre Grande Regional Corporation chairman Terry Rondon said floods had affected scores of residents in Vega De Oropouche, North Oropouche, Foster Road, Adventist Street, Ramdass Street and Toco Road. Some of them were waiting to be evacuated by the corporation.
Rondon said some areas in the Fishing Pond, Coal Mine and Lemond had also become impassable and dozens of residents were marooned in their homes.
“The roads and drains have been covered. It may take a while before we go in. But help will come,” Rondon assured.
The Foster Road and Vega De Oropouche Rivers also burst their banks.
Rondon said a Good Samaritan loaned the corporation a three storey building on Picton Street to provide shelter for those whose homes had been flooded out. By midday, the building had been outfitted with dozens of cots for flood victims to spend the night.
“Many of the places affected today were still cleaning up from last month’s flood. Some people didn’t even receive their flood relief grants as yet and were hit again by the water. It is paining me to see them go through this again,” Rondon said.
He pleaded with Government again to build a rescue shelter.
At Reid Lane, Vega De Oropouche, mother of six La Toya Lambkin broke down in tears, saying she was still awaiting her $20,000 relief grant when her home was flooded for the second time in under four weeks.
“I was still in the process of cleaning my home only to be faced with another flood. This giving me stress,” Lambkin said.
Vega De Oropouche Village Council president Eldon Sanchez said several households affected by last month’s deluge and awaiting relief grants were again flooded. He said residents who recently collected grants and had their homes flooded were now wondering if they could re-apply.
“This is something the association would have to explore seeing that they were hit in such quick succession,” Sanchez said.