Petrina Francis & Gareth Davis, Gleaner Writers

VAZ

Heavy rains lashed parishes across the island yesterday, resulting in flooding, and scores of persons trapped in their business places and homes.

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) reported flooding in the parishes of St. Ann, St. Mary and Portland.

Mayor of Port Maria, Bobby Montague, said yesterday that the entire town of Port Maria was under water and persons were marooned inside their business places.

Speaking yesterday on 'Good Evening Jamaica', on Power 106 radio, Mayor Montague said members of the Jamaica Defence Force and the Fire Brigade were mobilised and were evacuating persons who were stranded.

He also noted that the police were trying to assist but they too were marooned.

"The police station is flooded and the water is rising in the admin. office, where they are," the mayor said.

Port Maria under water

He explained that Port Maria, the parish capital was below sea level and as a result, everywhere was flooded.

In Portland, more than 200 residents had evacuated their homes up to press time. The trend is expected to continue into today as residents remain fearful that conditions could worsen.

Paradise Estate was also inundated and approximately 10 persons were trapped. The Fire Brigade responded and assisted them.

Jamaica Labour Party caretaker for Western Portland, Daryl Vaz, argued that a lack of drain cleaning and river training had contributed to flooding in the various communities.

Glenroy Brown, duty forecaster at the Meteorological Service told The Gleaner yesterday that a flash flood warning was still in effect for low lying and flood prone areas of all parishes.

According to the Meteorological Service, the frontal system, which has been affecting the island has become stationary across Jamaica. However, it is expected to drift towards the west tomorrow into Saturday.

And Krechet Greaves, of the information and training unit at ODPEM said persons in low-lying areas are to take the necessary precautions in the event of flooding and parents and teachers are to remind children of the dangers of playing in flood waters or trying to cross pathways that are inundated.

Persons who live in areas where flooding has occurred are asked to observe the following precautions:

-avoid washing and playing in rivers and areas subject to flooding.

-if you think your home is threatened by flooding, be ready to evacuate if conditions worsen.

The National Works Agency has advised that the Haughton Bridge in St. Mary has been closed. The bridge, the NWA said has been made impassable by heavy rains in the area since Wednesday, which has left it covered with water.

The alternative route from Kingston to Portland towards Port Antonio is Georgia, on to Clonmel, through Highgate and then on to Port Maria. The opposite obtains for motorists travelling from Port Maria towards Kingston.

Blocked roads in St. Mary

-Junction Road

-Highgate Road- blocked in the vicinity of Rosend.

-Section of road by Agualita Vale to Whitehall.

Affected areas in Portland

-Fruitful Vale,

-Orange Bay,

-Rio Grande river-rising,

-Forty Miles in Buff Bay,

-Hope Bay,

-Shrewsbury

-and sections of Hart Hill

St. Ann

Flooding in Great Pond.