Fishermen in Portland Cottage, Clarendon move their boat to higher ground before the arrival of Tropical Storm Gustav. - photos by Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

In Old Harbour Bay, St Catherine, scores of people using bicycles, handcarts, trucks and everything else, including their bodies, transported their belongings to safety.

Eda Campbell, a resident of the area, said she had not received any assistance since Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and that she was not taking any chances with Gustav.

She made her way to the Baptist Basic School, which is one of the shelters in the Old Harbour Bay area.

"Nothing all now"

"I have lost everything and not even a suit of clothes was left and nothing all now. I have lost everything," Campbell said.

Children were escorted to the shelter by their parents and family members. However, several persons vowed not to be moved by the hurricane.

A Rastafarian, who is a resident of the area, told The Gleaner, "Mi nah run from no hurricane!"

However, he joined the adults encouraging the children to make their way to the shelters.

In Clarendon, much of similar activities was taking place. The fishermen in Portland Cottage made no bones about carrying their boats farther inland.

"The boats mash up the last time, and we didn't receive any compensation all now so we have to do what we have to do to protect our livelihood," one of the fishermen told The Gleaner.

Carol Forbes, shelter manager for Portland Cottage All-age School, said 24-hour security would be provided for the facility. However, some residents have expressed a wish to stay with their properties or relocate to the nearby scheme, Portland Ridge.

At Rocky Point, before the arrival of Gustav, people seemed unaffected by the pending storm, preferring to wait until the last minute.

"It's a gamble, to leave your place, and when you come back everything gone and sometimes the shelter doesn't have water and can be blown away. The safest place for me is to stay with my property," one resident said.

A resident of Old Harbour Bay, St Catherine, tries to move his mattress ahead of the arrival of Tropical Storm Gustav, yesterday.