Elderly persons climb wall to escape flooding

Huge puddles of stagnant water and large potholes highlight the battering that New Haven, St Andrew, has faced from torrential rains that have lashed the island over the past two weeks.

On Duhaney Terrace, some of the residents were grateful that the majority of the water had receded, but not Trevor Green.

A knee-high mixture of rain and sewage water has settled in his yard and invaded his house, causing him to relocate his family.

Green said that he has been living at his current address since 1975 and has weathered many storms, but this is the worst case of flooding they have experienced.

"Normally we would have days of rain and flooding but the water usually run off, but now we are going into two weeks now and rain still falling. But the water stand up like a monster in a mi yard," he said.

He told the news team that on Sunday, water climbed over his verandah's walls, flowing into his house and destroying several pieces of furniture.

Neighbour house

"Mi mada and father in dem 80s and when mi see di water a come in on us, mi had to make dem climb over the wall to go over we neighbour house. Dem had to use a bed head as steps and climb over because dem couldn't walk in the water in the yard because it too high and I don't want them to drown," he said. "Right now is about eight of us had to leave. The persons who stay back is just to watch the rest of things that leave. We need some help urgently. The next time Jamaica hear about us, we might drown already."

He stressed that the flood waters pose various health risks to his family, especially his parents.

"Mi mada and father should be in the comfort of their home and should be six feet apart from people but dem have to hitch up now. Dengue is out and COVID a kill off people. Right now mi just have to give thanks to the neighbours to offer to put us up. Rain a fall hard now so we a beg the Government to help us or we a go drown," he said.

Green begged the relevant authorities to make the necessary arrangements to rectify the poor drainage system in the community.

After heavy rains caused flooding in September, five-term Member of Parliament (MP) Anthony Hylton implored the Government to treat the flooding situation in the area as an emergency.