Heavy and continuous rainfall between Wednesday and Thursday left several communities and farmlands in Regions Two and Three inundated yesterday and the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) dispatched Rapid Damage Assessment Teams to assess the situation.
The situation on the Essequibo Coast, Stabroek News was told, was exacerbated as the regional administration failed to deliver fuel to irrigation pump stations. However, Regional Chairman Devanand Ramdatt told this publication that all pumps and sluices were eventually put into operation to alleviate the flooding.
According to a report issued by the National Weather Watch Centre at Timehri, between 8 am on Wednesday and 8 am on Thursday (24hrs), some areas in regions One and Two had experienced more than an inch of accumulated rainfall.
The Department of Public Information (DPI) reported that the affected areas recorded more than 25 mm (1 inch) of rainfall within the 24 hours under review. In Region Two, the highest record of rainfall was recorded in Hibernia, approximately eight inches of accumulated rainfall, and at Supenaam, where the figure was more than nine inches. Among the other areas affected were Charity, in the Pomeroon, which saw approximately four inches of accumulated rainfall recorded, Wakapao, where there was over two inches, and Better Hope, Essequibo, where there was more than four inches.
Ramdatt also said that villages such as Adventure, Hampton Court, Devonshire Castle, Land of Plenty, Westbury, Reliance and Paradise also experienced flooding.
According to Ramdatt with the excessive rain and the pumps not being put into operation in a timely manner, lands became waterlogged.
He explained that despite recommendation from the regional council, the regional administration failed to implement several measures.
“We had recommended that they ensure fuel and all other systems are in place in the event of heavy rainfall like what we had over the night. But that was not done,” Ramdatt said.
He, however, noted that he was informed that fuel was sent to the pump stations later during the day to start operating the pumps. Sluices were also opened during low tide.
Ramdatt added that engineers from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority were also on the ground monitoring the operation of the pumps.
The Regional Chairman further reported that while water levels were high in some yards, no severe damage were reported. He said that kitchen gardens were, however, under threat.
Meanwhile, large scale farmer and prominent businessman Roopan Ramotar told Stabroek News that his rice farm was covered as a result of the rainfall.
“The region had intense rainfall over the night into the morning and the region failed to get the pump working… The pump attendant said that he didn’t had fuel to operate the pump,” Ramotar said.
The farmer, who also serves as the President of the Essequibo Chamber of Commerce, added that if the pump was put into operation, the situation could have been avoided. He noted that several farmers, including him, had to pump water off of their rice lands to prevent damage to their crops.
“This region is not proactive. They act after everything does happen. Unto 9 this [yesterday] morning the operator didn’t have any fuel to operate the pump. It is a new pump that was commissioned about two years ago but what is use of having a pump but not having fuel?” Ramotar stressed.
He also pointed out that based on his judgement from the visit, Land of Plenty is the one of the most severely affected villages. The Anna Regina Secondary School was also flooded.
In Region Three, the island of Wakenaam and farmlands at Canal Number One and Canal Number Two on the West Bank of Demerara were affected. Regional Information Officer Ganesh Mahipaul told Stabroek News that water began to recede off the island and the region was “on top” of the situation.
He explained that they had dispatched medical teams across the region to assess the situation at health centres and ensure medical supplies were adequate to address the needs of persons who might be ill.
Mahipaul also noted that all drains had been cleaned in Canal Number One and Two to provide efficient drainage.
The water levels in the region were reported to be between three and seven inches in height.
In Region One, Santa Rosa in the Moruca Sub-Region, saw over an inch of rainfall, DPI also reported.
Workers from the CDC were also on the ground monitoring the situation in the affected regions, head of the agency Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig said on his Facebook page.
In his post, he said that the CDC received reports of flooding in regions Two and Three. “The Commission has advised that the Regional Democratic Councils activate their Regional Disaster Management Systems and commence immediate response. The Commission is monitoring the situation through its 24 hours National Emergency Monitoring System (NEMS), and is on standby to support the Regional Administration,” he added.
According to the DPI report, a flood warning is in effect for flood-prone areas in these regions. According to the weather centre’s morning report for yesterday, these conditions are expected to continue, with heavy rains in the mornings and light showers in the afternoon.
An above normal high tide of approximately 2.99 metres was expected yesterday afternoon and residents in coastal and low-lying areas were advised to take all necessary precautionary measures, the report stated.
