Helping hands and open hearts emerged from both corporate T&T and ordinary citizens to offer hot meals, dry clothing and comforting shoulders to thousands of people who lost everything to devastating floods across more than half of the country.
In keeping with a campaign launched by Guardian Media, many people reached out to help over the past 48 hours.
Conglomerates, electricians, mechanics and plumbers were among the first to give, offering to provide essential supplies and services to get people back on their feet.
While some areas remain under water tonight and some people are opting to head to shelters, in churches, temples and mosques, other affected residents chose to stay in their swamped homes to protect what little is left of value.
Members of the Mafeking Masjid distribute bottle water to residents who were affected by floods in Mayaro on Saturday.
RISHI RAGOONATH
In an effort to capture this huge outpouring of support to those in need at this time and in order to provide a single platform and vehicle for sharing critical information, the Guardian Media Group has created an initiative called Flood of Relief.
The platform provided a real-time avenue for the sharing of flood heroes, health tips and traffic alerts. It also highlighted the good of our people.
We will continue to use this medium to educate and inform the public on the resources available to those affected and open a channel through which you can respond with support which you may wish to give and the means of doing so.
Blue Waters brand ambassador Andrew Lewis, a two-time Olympian, was one of the many people who were on site helping citizens who were stranded in east Trinidad. Lewis, no stranger to watercraft, skippered rescue vessel himself during rescue operations.
Courtesy Blue Waters
Chairman of the ANSA McAL Group of Companies, Norman Sabga, has announced a one million dollar initial donation in goods to the areas affected.
More support has also come through:
The Agostini Group of Companies
The Prestige Group of Companies
Sagicor
Dairy Dairy
Colin Sabga (Iceland)
FireOne Fireworks and Fineline
Distributors.
Hadco
Massy
Blue Waters
Global Brands (Pizza Boys)
Email us your information at floodrelief@guardian.co.tt
visit http://www.guardian.co.tt/flood for real-time updates