FLOODS ALL OVER

Rainfall led to confirmed reports of flooding in downtown Port-of-Spain, parts of Diego Martin, central Trinidad and south Trinidad. South Quay in Port-of-Spain was a veritable river of brown water, causing motorist and pedestrian traffic to come to a crawl.

The rainfall activity was due to the passage of a tropical wave over the Southern Caribbean which was interacting with the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). This was the first heavy rainfall for the rainy season since the Met Office declared the start of the 2015 rainy season on May 29. The Met Office underscored that TT is not under any tropical storm threat, watch or warning, as of yesterday.

Motorists proceeded cautiously as they tried to gauge the depth of the flood waters, while pedestrians either took shelter and waited until the waters receded or found inventive ways, including converting plastic bags into “shoes” to wade through the water to go about their business.

Young women, many in designer stilettos, decided to wait it out while several men waded through the water. Persons inside City Gate remained stranded — not willing to make their way into the water. The flash floods were being monitored by the National Operations Centre (NOC).

Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) deputy general manager of Marketing and Communications Carl Ramdeo, said despite the floods, they continued to operate as usual and the corporation would continue to work to accommodate the travelling public.

Because of the traffic build-up along the Churchill Roosevelt Highway, the Priority Bus Route (PBR) was opened to the public at 12.30 pm and remained so until the traffic eased up.

“We are trying to move the traffic out of the city, so the PBR would remain open until it has eased,” said NOC executive director Garvin Heerah in a brief interview.

The inclement weather also caused the 5 pm sailing of TT Express from PoS to be cancelled.

The TT Inter-Island Transportation Co Ltd (TTIT) advised the public that passengers with confirmed tickets for that sailing would be accommodated today at 6.30 am.

The TTIT said it will continue to monitor the weather conditions and the necessary arrangements will be made to ensure the safety of passengers, vehicles and personnel on board the ferries.

Garbage caused flooding

For his part, chief executive officer of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) Dr Stephen Ramroop said most of the flash flooding across the country yesterday was caused by littering which clogged drains.

He confirmed reports of flash flooding in Port-of-Spain, San Juan, Tunapuna, San Juan/Laventille particularly in Grand Bazaar, Chaguanas and along the east-west corridor.

There were no reports of major landslides or landslips, but Ramroop warned that where land has been denuded in elevated areas, particularly in Tobago, landslides are likely to occur.

He said litter of every kind was observed along the main thoroughfares including coconut shells, styro-foam boxes and plastic boxes. Once the rains subsided, the run-off was fairly swift.

The ODPM, he said, will continue to work with all stakeholders and first responders including the TT Defence Force and Fire Service who will be on alert to render assistance where such is needed.

Port-of-Spain’s Deputy Mayor Keron Valentine told Newsday the City Engineer Department has been monitoring the rainfall. As of mid-afternoon, Valentine said the department and the Disaster Management Unit of the corporation had received no report of any damage done by the flash flooding.

The rapid run-off of flash floods, he said, would have been due to work conducted by the Drainage Division of the Ministry of Water and the Environment in collaboration with the City Engineer’s Department on underground drainage in the vicinity of City Gate and along Wrightson Road.

Noting the amount of garbage, including car parts, refrigerators, washing machines and plastic containers that were removed from the city’s drainage system during the works done by the Drainage Division, Valentine urged the citizenry not to dispose of their garbage in the drainage system or on the city streets.

Marooned in own home

Flooding was also reported yesterday in several areas of south Trinidad with one woman saying she was virtually marooned in her house. Stephanie Mahabir’s home was surrounded by swirling water. The 73-year-old woman said flooding has been a usual occurrence in the area but it had gotten worse at her SS Erin Road, Penal home when TTEC dug a box drain in the area which she claimed has exacerbated the flooding.

Mahabir acknowledged that her entire home was not flooded out, but she was restricted in her movement for several hours owing to the high flood water. When Newsday arrived at her home in the afternoon, the water had begun to subside.

While her house had for the most time not been inundated with the floodwater, her bathroom was filled with water after the drain system was backed up by the flooding.

She said some of her neighbours were also affected by yesterday’s flooding which, while not causing major structural damage, was still a nuisance.

She also said some of the flooding was self inflicted in that some of the drains in the area were clogged with rubbish.