Although the heavy rains were forecast to ease up around 7 pm yesterday, officials of the Diego Martin, Tunapuna/Piarco and Sangre Grande regional corporations remained on high alert last night in order to respond to any calls for help by affected residents.
According to a bulletin from the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM), the heavy showers and thundershowers which began on Thursday night and continued yesterday were caused by an Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). Officials at the Met Office, Piarco, said while it was similar to the activity caused by the passage of a weak tropical wave on Thursday, it was another feature which was often present during the rainy season.
Adding that the heavy rains were expected to subside late yesterday, the official warned that while “conditions should settle overnight, there was still the chance of light to moderate rainfall. It doesn’t rule out the chance of a shower or thundershower, but we shouldn’t witness the same intensity as we did during the day today (yesterday).”
The ODPM confirmed they had received reports of flooding in several areas in east, central and south Trinidad, as well as in Tobago, along with reports of fallen trees and roofs being blown off in Chaguanas. Affected areas included Siparia, Couva, Tabaquite, Talparo, Sangre Grande, Princes Town, Mayaro, Rio Claro, Diego Martin, Port-of-Spain, San Juan and Laventille.
In the bulletin issued around 1.20 pm yesterday, the ODPM said the Met Office had forecast moderate to heavy rainfall activity to continue for close to six hours. As a result, they urged residents to take the necessary precautions as street and flash flooding was likely to occur, along with landslides/landslips.
The Works Ministry also advised motorists to avoid the North Coast Road and the Arima/Blanchisseuse Road as there was an increased risk of land slippage due to the inclement weather experienced over the last 48 hours.
Currently, the Ministry has a crew on the North Coast Road dealing with several landslips and as such is appealing to non-resident motorists and pleasure seekers to avoid the area until work has been completed. While there have been no reports of land slippage on the Arima/Blanchisseuse Road at this time, the heavy foliage and saturated soil conditions make this a distinct possibility, so citizens are encouraged to take the necessary precautions.
"Be alert to electrical discharges from thunderclouds. Citizens are advised to be vigilant and cautious as they conduct their activities, particularly commuters on our roadways as the road is wet," the ODPM cautioned.
Woman evacuated along north coast
An elderly woman had to be evacuated from her home at Blanchisseuse yesterday as rising flood water gushed into her home. Chairman of the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation Edwin Gooding said the woman was given alternative shelter and temporary relief supplies including meals and clothing.
He said they had not received any further reports of people losing their roof during yesterday's inclement weather, though they had received three reports of residents who were stranded as a result of rising waters. He revealed that officials of the corporation’s Disaster Management Unit (DMU) had been out before 5 am yesterday, rendering assistance to two families in D’Abadie, who had to be rescued after their home was flooded.
Chairman of the Diego Martin Regional Corporation Daryl Smith said officials were “working with residents to mitigate the damage caused by the heavy rains.”
A priority report compiled by the corporation’s DMU and submitted around 4 pm yesterday revealed that gusty winds on Thursday morning had affected homes at La Puerta; La Horquette Road; Haig Street, Carenage; Glencoe; Sea View Hill; Pt Cumana; Amowville; Upper Bournes Road; Dibe Road; Petit Valley; Mercer Road, Diego Martin; and Cocorite Terrace.
Officials estimated that more than 100 people were affected, while 26 homes lost their roofs, and several others sustained damage from falling trees. At Providence Estate, seven roofs were severely damaged, causing three homes to be deemed uninhabitable. In the Cocorite area, seven roofs were damaged, while at Sea View Hill, Carenage, five homes were affected.
Officials of the National Commission for Self Help accompanied corporation officials out on the field yesterday, assessing damage and advising residents of available financial assistance to help them with the rebuilding process.