St. Catherine residents plead for help

Date Published: 
31 Aug 2008

Cries for food supplies, shelter and a dry place to sleep echoed throughout several communities in St Catherine after Tropical Storm Gustav caused severe flooding.

The Gleaner news team went on the streets of Ensom City, where persons were marooned for several hours, as the Rio Cobre overflowed its banks and dumped several tonnes of water into the area, forcing some persons to evacuate and blocking others in.

Residents rescued

It was the same for the Windsor Avenue community where members of the Jamaica Defence Force had to use ropes and boats to rescue several residents who were trapped.

The Old Harbour and St John's roads were also blocked. As the team proceeded to Nightingale Grove, several sections of the toll road were seen flooded.

When the team eventually got into Nightingale Grove, a tale of woe rang clear. This was the case, especially on Cedar Drive, where the fire brigade, with assistance from the National Solid Waste Management Authority and the Jamaica Urban Transit Company, had to be called in to rescue several residents.

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