ODPM received more than 1,900 flood reports

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) has received more than 1,900 flood reports caused by severe weather conditions resulting in widespread flooding across the country.

In a statement to the media yesterday, the organisation said a national response mechanism was activated on October 18 as calls from the ODPM’s regional coordinators were being made to regional corporations’ disaster management units.

“Within the Penal/Debe Regional Corporation’s disaster management unit, 265 reports by affected people were received and the majority of the reports pertained to floods while other reports were as a result of fallen trees, landslides and leaking roofs. “Shelters at the Clarke Rochard Government Primary School and Woodland Hindu School were closed due to flood waters subsiding.”

The organisation said agencies coordinated to assist with the completion of 85 damage assessments. Fifty-five assessments were completed by a team of the Disaster Management Unit (DMU), Community Emergency Response Team, TT Red Cross Society and TT Defence Force (TTDF) personnel.

At the Siparia Regional Corporation’s disaster management unit, 250 reports were made while 800 reports were received from the Mayaro /Rio Claro Regional Corporation.

The Sangre Grande Regional Corporation received 76 reports which also included Navet Village, Poole Valley, Jairam Trace, Poole, Cedar Grove, and Mafeking.

“The DMU is currently in the field assisting clean-up efforts in various areas of Sangre Chiquito, Brooklyn Settlement, North Oropouche-Guy Trace, Riley Land Settlement One and Two, Leemond, Fishing Pond, Vega de Oropouche (Melajo), La Seiva, Foster Road, Marchack, Foster Road, Valencia, Guaico Tamana, Sou Sou Lands and Cunaripo.

“Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation Disaster Management Unit received 248 reports, while 350 reports were received from the Princes Town Regional Corporation.”

The ODPM said a landslide near the Brasso Police Station blocked the Brasso Caparo Road and has since been cleared by the Ministry of Works and Transport.

Impacted areas also included Gasparillo, Carapichaima, Caparo, Mamoral, Couva, Claxton Bay, Freeport, Williamsville and Tabaquite. The organisation said the Defence Force teams have been deployed to do damage and needs assessments.

Areas impacted include Barrackpore, Rochard Douglas Main Road, Cunjal Road North, Cunjal Road South, Teelucksingh Trace, Oropouche South Trace, Ramlal Trace, Kanhai Road North, Kanhai Road South, Gilbert Trace, Manan Trace, Mattbar Trace, Batthan Trace, Oropouche River Road, St Mary’s Village, Moruga, White Trace, Western Trace, Saunders Trace, Babooram Trace, Mantacool Trace, Glod Road, and Tableland.

The ODPM said after heavy rainfall, citizens are advised to stay inside until water levels have subsided and it is safe to venture outside, not to walk/drive through flood waters, and be cautious when walking/driving along hillsides or landslide-prone areas.

Citizens are asked to contact the ODPM’s customer care centre at 511 or 999 if affected by ongoing weather conditions.