New Haven escapes excess flooding this time

Residents of New Haven, St Andrew, are breathing a sigh of relief that yesterday's rains did not bring a repeat of the catastrophic events of last year's flooding caused by Tropical Storms Eta and Zeta.

They were thankful that their homes were spared from the murky flood waters mixed with sewage that usually flow into their homes, destroying furniture and appliances.

The explanation they gave was that two drains were cleaned before the onslaught of Tropical Storm Elsa.

"If the drain never clean, it would worse than this. Last year when the rain start, me affi move my mada out the house. The water reach way up to here (pointing to the wall). Today rain never so bad but a just because of the drain and me really glad bout it," Pauline Francis told THE STAR.

Francis and her brother, Trevor Green, said that they did not sleep Saturday night, as they stayed up rearranging their home in case there was flooding.

Give thanks regardless

"We a clean up now because the rain ease up little, but as you can see, water barely in here this time. It nuh so bad, but we give thanks regardless. Last time it rain, the water stay in the house for eight weeks, me had to move out my family go somewhere else," Green said.

Similar sentiments were expressed by Anthony Grey and Kemeshia Page of Sheritton Avenue. They said flooding has been a headache for them, given their proximity to the Duhaney River.

"A just last week dem get one tractor and clean out the river so that it would help prevent the flooding. It affect we bad bad round here. Last year dem time here, my dresser mash up, everything in my house mash up," Page said. Grey added that he led a team of workers to clean the debris-filled river.

"Dem need fi clean out the river properly because this a gwan long time now. This is all because of the drainage weh out a Mandela (Highway) and it back up and come round here. Everytime it rain, it not even affi be heavy rain, round here always flood out. We really want them to come round here and take a look and help us," Grey said.

But residents still expressed fear that if there is more heavy rain, they may have to seek shelter elsewhere.