Yesterday’s low tides and warm weather were ripe for clean-up works in flood-ravaged communities but after three disasters in just six months, the fear of more devastation looms large.
Like the onslaught of Tropical Storm Bret in June and the Divali floods of October, the recent rainfall has distressed hundreds of households.
Cepep crews were out assisting residents in Mafeking Village, Mayaro to discard ruined furniture, appliances and clothing valued ten of thousands of dollars. Similarly, some Woodland folks were trying to salvage anything they could from the mauby-coloured water that seeped into their homes since Friday.
Chairman of the Mayaro/Rio Claro Regional Corporation Glen Ram painted a grim outlook of the next rainy season, saying that if the Ministry of Works and Transport continue to grapple with funding to clear major watercourses, devastating floods could become the norm.
Water had subsided along the Naparima/Mayaro Road but Cedar Grove and its surrounding area remained covered. Ram said over 150 houses were affected, but the tally continued to climb yesterday as the Disaster Management Unit assessed the damage.
Two families had to be rescued from their home by first responders and they took up shelter at the Mayaro Civic Centre. They were provided with mattresses and food.
“We had floods just two months ago, but this month was worse than before. If you saw the pictures, you would see people’s fences covered by the waters. The problem here in Mayaro is that there is a constant need to clean the main rivers which fall under the Ministry of Works.
“Of course we raised these issues at our regional meetings, but we understand that the problem with the Ministry is funding. We try to help but we are also starved for funding and floods will become a perennial thing is nothing happens. If the rain comes in that manner again, we will get flooded again, especially when the tide is high,” Ram said.