By Chantalé Fletcher, Darius Phillip and Vidya Tikasingh
THE Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government reports 314 blown-off or damaged roofs, 102 fallen trees following bad weather that started early Friday morning.
The severe weather was associated with a cluster of thunderstorms and the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS) has put out and adverse weather alert until 8pm Saturday.
Sandra Noel, a resident of E Street, Fanny Village, Point Fortin told AZPNews.com that the freak storm was like a real-time horror movie.
She said, “The winds howled, then came silent; rains pounding on my house was followed by darkness. My son started screaming and running through the house.
“I started to pray because the country had recently experienced horrendous floods and now this. But when I awoke, and saw my neighbour’s roof. I bawled, it was completely torn.”
Noel, who lived with her teenaged autistic son and elderly father, said thankful that they did not experience any effects, but admitted that the experience was one to forever remember.
“My son is still traumatised by this, so I have to hold him tightly assuring him that everything will be okay. I thank God that no one was injured in any of the incidents.
“You lose your house, you could re-build but you can’t get another life, so people should count their blessings.”
She said Point Fortin MP Kennedy Richards Jr visited the area with Councillor Lydon Harris.
The Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government stated that the Disaster Management Units (DMUs) were mobilised and will continue to render assistance to burgesses in collaboration with the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service (TTFS) and Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC).
However, in the Southwest Peninsula, some residents in Chatham Village saw sparking electrical lines on Friday evening.
Some Princes Town residents said there were no rising flood waters within the hours of the first issued adverse weather alert.
Councillor for Fifth Company Rafi Mohammed said box drains were constructed under the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) in Teelucksingh Trace and St Croix Extension.
In Barrackpore West, Councillor Nicholas Kanhai walked through Digity Trace and environs to access any major infrastructure issues that may have contributed to flooding.
There were several collapsed cylinders, unmaintained channels and illegal developments, he said.
Residents of Sangre Grande and environs were still without water and electricity following the tropical wave on Friday.
According to posts on the Sangre Grande Community Group Facebook page, areas such as upper Coalmine, Sangre Grande and Genda Road, Fishing Pond were still without electricity and pipe-borne water.
Other posted about fallen trees and power lines on road ways as well as blown off or detached galvanized roofing.
On Facebook, Councillor for North West Sangre Grande Nassar Hosein said “Extreme danger in Neeranjan St S/ Grande.Swaying with d breeze, sparks are flying! RESIDENTS ARE SCARED. PLZ. ATTEND A.S.A.P.”
Contacted by AZP News , Hosein said at Guaico Village Street #5 a roof was blown off and leaned on power lines.
He said a tree fell on the power lines in Neeranjan Street, Sangre Grande.
The residents of the area said when the wind blew against these power lines during the inclement weather on Friday moning, it casued sparks.
Hosein said residents contacted T&TEC and the DMU for the area but nothing has been done.
Meanwhile the TTMS told the public to be on alert for gusty winds, street/flash flooding localized ponding, landslides/landslips which may occur in areas under heavy showers/thunderstorms and to assess their surrounding before venturing out.
Here’s a look at Saturday’s weather courtesy TTMS:
Forecast: Variably cloudy with periods of showers and/or rain showers. There is the chance that one or two of these showers can become heavy and thundery. Conditions are expected be become settled by evening to give a mostly fair night.
The remainder of the Lesser Antilles: Mainly fair, hazy and breezy despite a few brisk showers.
Maximum Temperature:
Piarco: 30° C Crown Point 30° C
Sunrise: 5.55am Sunset: 6.12am
Seas
Seas are moderate with waves up to two metres in open waters and less than one metre in sheltered areas.
Trinidad
High tide: 1.48am, 3.14pm
Low tide: 8.42am, 8.27pm
Tobago
High tide: 1.31am, 2.33pm
Low tide: 8.19am, 7.56pm
