T&T has always lived with heavy rains. But in recent years, what used to be seasonal downpours now feels like torrents from the sky, “bucket ah drop” as the saying goes. Streets become rivers within minutes, homes flood, and families are left to clean up and rebuild repeatedly. Science shows that climate change from burning fossil fuels is making these extreme rainfall events more frequent: thus, flooding isn’t a “passing cloud,” but a defining challenge for which we must prepare.
How human actions worsen natural hazards
Climate change sets the stage, but local actions determine how destructive floods become. Dry season hillside bush fires leave behind burnt, bare slopes. Without trees to absorb rainfall and anchor the soil, rain rushes downhill unchecked, carrying mud and debris into rivers and drains.
Simultaneously, planned and unplanned developments reshape the land. Housing projects, industrial estates, and unplanned settlements often spring up without adequate drainage or respect for natural waterways. Paved surfaces prevent the ground from absorbing rainwater, forcing it instead into overburdened drains and rivers.
Our drainage infrastructure, much of it built decades ago, wasn’t designed to handle the new intensity of rainfall. The problem is worsened by how we treat our waterways. From plastic bottles to old mattresses and even fridges, discarded waste clogs drains and culverts, turning heavy rainfall into flash floods. Often, drains are cleared and the contents left on the roadside for days/weeks, so the next rain washes it right back in!
Next is where and how we build. Too many homes in flood-prone areas are single-storey structures with electrical outlets and furniture at ground level. We used to build on stilts in places like Caroni - a good adaptation - but often don’t nowadays, despite continuing to build in flood-prone areas.
Rising seas, rising risks
Global sea level rise adds further risk. Coastal communities know when heavy rain coincides with high tide, water cannot drain off the land. Instead, swollen rivers back up, pushing floodwaters into streets and yards. Over time, as seas continue rising, this problem will worsen, threatening low-lying areas from Port-of-Spain to Manzanilla.
Human toll: Physical and mental health
The impacts of floods are not only physical, but personal. Families lose furniture, vehicles, and sometimes entire homes. Roads and bridges wash away, disrupting schooling and business. Farmers watch their crops rot in waterlogged fields.
Health risks multiply during and after floods. People sometimes drown. Contaminated waters spread diseases such as leptospirosis, dengue, and gastroenteritis. Pools of stagnant water breed mosquitoes. Food and water supplies may be compromised.
Equally concerning is the psychological toll. For those living in flood-prone areas, heavy rain brings anxiety and stress: will the water come inside this time? Children especially experience fear that can affect them long after floodwaters recede.
What we can do
Flooding isn’t a problem that the government or individuals alone can fix. Preparing for and adapting to a future of increasing floods requires collective responsibility across society: citizens, businesses, and government.
Citizens’ responsibilities:
Stop littering: The simplest and most effective action is to keep garbage out of drains and rivers. Plastic and waste in waterways directly cause urban flooding.
Prepare homes: Elevate appliances and electrical outlets, store important documents safely, and consider rainwater harvesting systems.
Community vigilance: Organise neighbourhood clean-ups and report illegal dumping or hillside clearing.
Emergency readiness: Families should have evacuation plans, first aid kits, and backup supplies for flooding emergencies.
Businesses’ role:
Flood-proofing facilities: Design and retrofit buildings with flood resilience in mind.
Community partnerships: Support local clean-up campaigns, reforestation drives, and drainage projects.
Insurance solutions: Develop affordable policies that help homeowners and businesses recover while encouraging risk-reducing measures.
Government priorities:
Modern drainage systems: Upgrade old infrastructure and design new systems to handle heavier rainfall and urban growth.
Land-use planning: Enforce zoning laws preventing construction in flood-prone areas and encourage flood-resilient designs, like raised homes.
Watershed management: Protect and reforest hillsides to restore natural absorption and reduce erosion. Strictly regulate quarrying and hillside clearing.
Coastal defences: Invest in mangrove restoration and other natural barriers to manage the dual pressures of floods and sea level rise.
Early warning systems: Expand weather and tide monitoring and improve communication so citizens can prepare before waters rise.
Building a culture of resilience
Flooding in T&T is no longer a seasonal inconvenience — it’s a national challenge that impacts our health, economy, and quality of life. But by acknowledging the reality of climate change and changing how we build, manage land, and treat the environment, we can reduce risks and protect future generations.
The rains will likely get worse. Rising seas will continue to threaten our shores. But floods don’t have to mean repeated disaster. With foresight, planning, and a collective behavioural shift, T&T can adapt and thrive even in a wetter, more unpredictable world.
Dr C James Hospedales is the founder of EarthMedic and EarthNurse
The foregoing was a weekly column by EarthMedic and EarthNurse NGO to help readers understand and address the climate and health crisis.
