By Sue-Ann Wayow
CLEAN-UP operations including dredging of watercourses and clearing of roadways have begun in preparation of the hurricane and rainy season especially in low-lying areas.
And it was much needed as there were several reports of flooding around the country on Friday.
The Meteorological Office has issued a yellow level localised flood alert in effect until 6pm on Saturday .
Minister of Rural Development and Local Government Kazim Hosein recently met with the Mayors, Chairmen, Chief Executive Officers, Disaster Management Coordinators of City and Borough Corporations and the Met Office in preparation for the imminent adverse weather expected over the next few days due to Tropical Storm Elsa.
Disaster Management Coordinators of the 14 Corporations gave updates on their state of readiness.
Coordinators are in the process of replenishing relief items, coordinating sandbag distributions, chainsaws and other tools to aid in hazard mitigation.
The Disaster Management Units (DMU)s remain on high alert and are equipped with sandbags for distribution to burgesses who may require them, the ministry stated in recent press releases.
Sandbags aid in the mitigation of floodwaters and significantly reduce the occurrence of flood damage.
The Ministry of Agriculture Land and Fisheries was also thanked for assistance in that aspect.
The coordinators remain on high alert and the Municipal Emergency Operations Centre on stand-by to be activated, in the event of severe weather.
Citizens are reminded by the ministry to be prepared, stay updated and to contact their respective Disaster Management Unit for sandbags prior to the adverse weather system.
Flood in Coastal Mayaro
Chairman of the Mayaro/Rio Claro Regional Corporation Raymond Cozier told AZPNews.com that with the constant rainfall on Thursday night into Friday morning, some areas were flooded.
Mafeking in Mayaro below:
He said there was flooding in Mafeking, Mayaro and Manzanilla. However, there are concerns that once the sea tides were high, the water will not be able to flow out properly into the sea and there may be massive flooding in the region.
Cozier said, this year, dredging was done by the Ministry of Works and Transport Drainage Division but work started late.
“This year, the work started late. They were able to complete some areas and the job they did in those areas were good. But they may not be able to do all the areas needed especially if the ground is too soft because it will not be able to hold the heavy equipment needed to do the job.”
Work was done in Navet, along the Guayaguayare Road and Kernahan he said.
Dreading High Tide
At 8am on Friday, Chairman of the Princes Town Regional Corporation Gowrie Roopnarine told AZPNews.com that while there were no reports of the flooding, rivers were extremely high and if incessant rainfall continue there would be definitely be flooding in the region.
However, in Barrackpore where the Princes Town boundaries meet, flooding occurred on the roadways.
Chairman of the Penal/Debe Regional Corporation Dr Allen Sammy said given all the rivers in the south low-lying region, he was anticipating serious effects when the sea tide changes at 10am.
At 9am, he told AZPNews.com, “Right now, the tide is low. We have flooding in several areas. When the tide changes, there will be a major problem because all the watercourses are almost full to capacity right now.”
Central Trinidad was not spared with Korea Village in Carapichaima also had flooding.
Samuels Combs is spotted trapped in his home at Korea Village in this video of AZPNews.com Chief Photographer Azlan Mohammed:
Tobago also had constant rain on Friday morning.
This Silja Lewis video below shows rain from Top ‘O’ Tobago Villas in Arnos Vale:
