Heavy rains caused by a low-level trough brought flash flooding to several parts of the country yesterday morning. T&T Met Services said the showery spells and convective activity were induced by Hurricane Teddy although the cyclone posed no direct threat to the country.
Among the worst affected areas were parts of Arouca and Tacarigua which had been toured by Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan just a week earlier as he sought solutions to the unusual flooding affecting those communities in the last several months. Affected areas included St Clair Gardens in Trincity, Lopinot Road, Range Road, Five Rivers and Dunder Hill Road in Arouca and parts of Tacarigua.
There were also reports of downed trees, fallen power-lines and roofs being blown off along the Toco Main Road, Manzanilla, Sangre Grande, Valencia, Barataria and areas on the outskirts of Port-of-Spain, as well as Penal, San Francique, Gasparillo, Claxton Bay and Couva.
Crews were called out to the North Coast Road to clear fallen trees that blocked the roadway just after the lookout, and in Las Cuevas around the 13 km mark.
Senior Disaster Management Co-ordinator at the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government Jerry David said Community Emergency Response Teams had been activated and were ready began doing assessments as soon as the rains subsided. David said fire officials were called on to assist with removing fallen trees from across major and minor roads, and items such as tarpaulins and mattresses were distributed to residents in many of the affected areas.
Residents whose homes were severely damaged will be referred to the National Commission for Self Help, he said.