Water levels in Lethem and the surrounding communities have receded considerably with systems in place to cope with further flooding.
Electricity continues to be rationed, a resident told Stabroek News yesterday. He said that the water levels have dropped and residents are hoping that the flood is going to soon be over. Several persons evacuated to shelters remain there, he said. Water levels in Lethem and other Rupununi communities began rising on Wednesday and at least two houses collapsed.
Regional Councillor Carl Parker told Stabroek News that the region’s disaster relief committee has put plans in place to cope with any further flooding. “We’re monitoring the situation. All the organizations are in a state of readiness,” he said. He said that the waters have come off the roadways but are still at high levels in the rivers. “We’re more in a state of readiness now than last year,” he, however, said.
With regard to electricity he said that the bigger tanker can no longer travel because of the fragile state of the road and a smaller tanker is being used to bring in fuel from the coast hence the need to ration supplies. Certain sections of the road are waterlogged but minibuses can still travel, he said.
Three families were relocated to other friends and family while one family was relocated to a shelter set up at the Christian Brethren church. There have been no reports of water-borne diseases and the education department is using the school system to disseminate information. In addition, the army and region’s boat are being utilized to transport students and workers who have to pass flood affected areas to their schools and workplaces, Parker said.
He noted too that the Guyana Water Inc has distributed some water tanks to St Ignatius village and has also deployed a stand-by generator to power that village should the need arise since the community is usually the one most affected when there are power cuts. Other shelters have been inspected and are ready, Parker said. “The situation is not threatening as yet,” he added.
