Jamaica parish cries out for help after Sandy

(Jamaica Gleaner) Six days after Hurricane Sandy passed through Jamaica, leaving a trail of devastation, residents of St Thomas were doing their best as they sought to put their lives back together.

The eastern parishes were hit the hardest following the passage of the Category One hurricane last Wednesday and that tale was evident in St Thomas, with several homes, businesses, schools, churches, farms, and roads suffering severe to minor damage.

A number of downed power lines and utility poles also explained why numerous residents in the parish were still without electricity. Yesterday, Jamaica Public Service crews were at work in a number of areas, but despite the efforts, the utility company said it would likely take several more days before power could be completely restored.

In the meantime, the National Works Agency said six roadways in the parish were still impassible. These were White Hall to Hillside, Hall Head to Morant River Bridge, Coley to Low Mountain, Yallahs to Petersfield and Hall Head to Negro River/White Ford to Mahogany Vale, where the rivers were still in spate at both locations and the roadway inundated.

In the community of Lloyds, the residents were convinced they were hit the hardest in the island.

“It come een like a up here alone Sandy come because everywhere we go we don’t see so much damage,” said 24-year-old Marlon Wilson.

“Almost every house top gone. A work we deh yah a work fi try put back tings together fast fast. Some house and shop all flatten.”

House demolished

Roy Francis and his family appeared to be the worst hit in the community. Their house was completely demolished. On Monday, their belongings were still out in the open, exposed to the elements.

“Him just leave him house after four come ask me if me all right,” said neighbour Gloria Cruickshank.

“Me tell him we all right and by di time him look, him see him house start move; the roof just gone and then me see the whole house start to crumble. Everything just start fly. I was so frighten.”

At 79-year-old Shadrock Wilson’s farm, he held his head as he surveyed the damage. His livestock farm that included pigs, goats and chickens was badly torn up, killing several of the animals.

“Everything almost deh a ground,” the farmer pointed out.

Thirty-four-year-old Omar Henry looked at the spot that once housed his shop, flattened by a guango tree.

Fernando Graham, 68, had to use several concrete blocks to hold down his zinc roof, which fared a little better than his toilet that was completely blown away, and the chicken coop that was badly damaged.

Water pouring in

Fitzroy Green lost his entire roof.

“Me de inna di house when di hurricane lick and when me look, di whole roof gone and water just a pour in. Me affi run out,” said the 32-year-old.

“Everything in deh wet up and damage.”

Said Gwendolyn Phillips, who also lost her roof: “We need help, a whole heap a help in Lloyds. Just look on the damage and you can see it for yourself.”

In Morant Bay, the popular entertainment spot, Colonel Cove, was completely destroyed. Located on the waterfront, “the sea sweep straight through it,” said maintenance manager Desmond Spencer.

“Man haffi know how serious woman is. The lady (Sandy) do we bad. Other hurricane come and do some damage before but dah one yah a di wickedest,” noted Garnett Brown, who had worked there for more than 26 years.

Across the road, Morant Villas, which owned and managed Colonel Cove, also suffered extensive roof and structural damage.

Up in Spring Garden and Stony Gut, residents were also hard at work trying to repair their homes, while a few were completely demolished and had to be abandoned.