Several residents in southwestern Trinidad were left counting their losses yesterday, after a thunderstorm associated with an approaching tropical wave damaged their homes, with some roofs almost completely ripped off.
Up to last evening, between eight and 10 homes were reported to have been affected, although assessments were still being carried out by the Siparia Borough Corporation’s Disaster Management Unit.
No injuries were reported.
Reports of damage began surfacing around midday.
Speaking from the Taylor Avenue, Quinam Road community in Siparia, a resident who requested anonymity recalled that she was at her cousin’s home when the storm struck.
“I was looking out the window and seeing the trees bending almost 90 degrees. I honestly thought the tree was going to snap and break. Then I got the call saying that the roof had blown off,” she said.
“I was just praying and asking God to hold back the bad weather because we had plans for later. I was not expecting roofs to be blown off.”
Another resident, 37-year-old Tenisha Pascall, said the roof of her grandmother’s house was torn off by the strong winds. She said no one was living in the house, as renovations had recently been completed and the family was preparing to move back in.
She recalled that around 11.36 am, the weather suddenly became severe.
“Close to lunchtime, I was experiencing strong winds. Trees and different things were flying around, and I heard a loud bang. At the time, I did not know it was my grandmother’s house,” she said.
Pascall said she later saw a message in a group chat indicating that someone’s roof had been blown off on Taylor Avenue. After contacting relatives, she learned it was her grandmother’s home.
“I was surprised because I didn’t realise the wind was strong enough to blow off a roof. I was really shocked,” she said.
Palo Seco councillor Anton George said residents reported heavy rainfall and powerful wind gusts. He confirmed that four homes in the community had been reported as suffering damage up to that time but noted that the number could increase as assessments continued.
“The four homes suffered severe roof damage. In some cases, the roofs were almost completely ripped off. What we are asking is that Minister Mohit, through her ministry, does whatever she can to speed up the process of assisting these individuals. That’s all the people are asking for, help to return to some form of normalcy in their daily lives,” George said.
He said the Disaster Management Unit had already visited the affected properties and documented the damage to be forwarded to the relevant ministry.
While some residents were able to move their belongings to safer locations before the worst of the storm, George said others were not as fortunate and lost household items to rain damage.
“Some persons have damaged televisions, damaged mattresses and damaged household appliances,” he said.
Other affected areas included Palo Seco, Palo Seco Settlement, No. 4 Road, Erin and Parrylands.
George said the corporation distributed hurricane straps and tarpaulins to help residents secure their homes.
Guardian Media contacted Minister of People, Social Development and Family Services Vandana Mohit for comment, but no response was received up to press time.
Power dips were also reported across parts of southern and central Trinidad.
What caused the damaging winds?
Fallen trees, damaged roofs and power dips were reported across South and Central Trinidad yesterday, as an isolated thunderstorm produced heavy rain and wind gusts exceeding 30-50 km/h.
The thunderstorm developed over southern Trinidad ahead of an approaching tropical wave today. Heavy downpours and elevated low-level winds helped bring stronger winds to the surface. The event was not a ‘freak’ occurrence, as thunderstorms and gusty winds formed part of yesterday’s forecast.
