Maroc - NEWSDAY.CO.TT - A la Une - 13/Aug 05:30

Heavy rain causes flooding on East-West Corridor

Heavy rain and flash flooding left several homes and roads in the San Juan/Laventille Regional Corporation under water on Monday. There were also reports of street flooding in Port of Spain, Valsayn and St Augustine. In a conversation with the chairman of the San Juan/Laventille corporation Alderman Richard Walcott, Newsday was told that several roads experienced flooding and a part of one home in El Socorro collapsed. [caption id="attachment_1102041" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Flooding close to the eastbound lane of the Churchill Roosevelt Highway, Barataria on August 12. - Photo by Enrique Rupert[/caption] “We had one fallen tree and one landslide reported,” Walcott told Newsday. He added that there were 21 reports of flooding, with ten being reports of flooding on roads and 11 being reports of flooding at people’s homes. Walcott said the heavy rain and water caused the kitchen area of one home on Glen Lane Extension, El Socorro to collapse. He said the corporation was at the time liaising with the family of that home, and should the structure be unsafe to stay in, the corporation would open one of its shelters to the family for the night. [caption id="attachment_1102040" align="alignnone" width="1024"] A shopowner scoops mud caused by flash flooding into a bucket, in front of her plant shop on the Eastern Main Road, St Augustine on August 12. - Photo by Angelo Marcelle[/caption] According to the Disaster Management Unit, flash flooding was reported in Champs Fleurs near the Carib brewery, along the Eastern Main Road, San Juan, near First Citizens Bank and on the Morvant Junction. Walcott said the area hit hardest was Mt Lambert, which, up to press time, was still under water. “Water had gotten into people’s premises and the road is still under water,” he said. “We are hoping that the water would subside by tomorrow morning (August 13) so we can start our clean-up process.” He said the corporation could begin cleaning affected areas by August 13. [caption id="attachment_1102039" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Drivers attempt to navigate floodwaters on South Quay, Port of Spain on August 12. - Photo by Roger Jacob[/caption] Walcott added that he would be notified during the course of the night of August 12, on updates on the situation at Mt Lambert and whether it had worsened or improved. Businesses also experienced flooding in the area. Management and staff at Food Giant, in the Maritime building near Morvant Junction said water came into the carpark of the Maritime Building, filling it with water. One employee said, “It was about two feet of water. Some vehicles were submerged in water as well. A couple people who could not get their cars out in time, some water got into them, but when it cleared they were able move them. Walcott told Newsday the corporation was prepared to manage an unpredictable rainy season but he expressed disappointment on the condition of the waterways and watercourses, after spending a significant amount of money clearing them during the dry season. “We have to keep our drains and rivers cleared,” he said. “It is unfortunate that, after the corporation spent $1.5 million to clean all the drains and rivers in the region, when there was flooding in the Santa Cruz region about two or three weeks ago, we saw old appliances and people cutting logs and throwing them in the river. “One of our biggest challenges is people using our drains and rivers to empty their garbage, but we are on the ball. Every time we have a disaster we are on the spot to deal with the situation. "All our supplies are fully stocked, we have a contract with a couple supermarkets, so at a moment’s notice, we can get hampers to distribute to residents. We have mattresses, blankets, emergency kits, so at a moment’s notice we have something there already stocked.” He said, while reports indicated the San Juan/Laventille area might be subject to a significant amount of rain, he was hoping the rain would not be too heavy during the rest of the season. On August an adverse weather alert was issued for TT, from 11.30 am-5 pm. It was discontinued at 3.55 pm. Another adverse weather alert was issued shortly after. This time, from 1 am - 5 pm on August 13.   The post Heavy rain causes flooding on East-West Corridor appeared first on Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.