BLACK RIVER, St Elizabeth:
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS Co-ordinator for St. Elizabeth, Yvonne Morrison, says that the situation in the flood-ravished communities of New River and Newmarket have worsened, because the residents refuse to move into the official shelters provided for them.
Speaking in an interview with The Gleaner yesterday, Miss Morrison said that the flood-affected residents of New River are now sheltering at the New River Zion church and some other abandon buildings in the community. She said that the hygienic condition at these informal facilities were far from desirable.
"All of the affected residents in the community were told to go into the Santa Cruz Community Centre. However none of them took up the offer. I am going there today (Tuesday) to have a first hand view of the sanitary and other conditions that exist amongst the residents" Miss Morrison remarked.
The St. Elizabeth Disaster Co-ordinator also noted that she went to Newmarket last week and it was noticeable that the water which covered most of the community was still rising. "That means that more residents and their homes are under threat".
Miss Morrison also explained that like New River, the affected residents of Newmarket also refused to go into the shelters provided for them at the Lewisville High School and the Lewisville Community Centre. As a result their living condition has gotten worst.
Another critical thing facing the residents of these communities is that their children cannot get to attend school as often as they should due to the flooding situation affecting the areas.
Some of the places that are being affected by the prolonged flood water are the Santa Cruz Funeral Home, New River Basic School and the Beersheeba All-Age School in New Market.
