Devon Evans and Mark Beckford, Gleaner Writers

Residents of Snow Hill, St Ann, survey the flood damage caused by heavy rainfall between Wednesday night and yesterday. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

Hundreds of individuals from more than 50 homes and business places across sections of St Ann were yesterday left to battle flood waters after heavy rains lashed the parish between Wednesday night and early Thursday morning.

The Meteorological Service is forecasting that showers will continue into today with isolated thunderstorms mainly over northern and south-eastern parishes. This, it said, is associated with a surface trough east of the island, which is expected to gradually weaken by Saturday evening.

Serious flooding

The rain, which caused serious flooding in sections of the parish, left several roads impassable and forced the closure of three schools and a number of business places. The situation also crippled the commercial activity in downtown Ocho Rios, which was inundated throughout most of the day.

The police, members of the Jamaica Fire Brigade and disaster-relief personnel were kept busy throughout the day assisting both residents and businesspeople in their recovery effort.

Disaster Coordinator for St Ann, Alvin Clarke, reported late yesterdayafternoon that no shelters have been opened to accommodate the affected residents but that his office was willing to do so if a request was made.

He said those whose homes were damaged were now engaged in a clean-up exercise while some who lost all their belongings have opted to stay with relatives or friends.

Illegal mining

Several persons in St Ann are blaming informal communities and mining activities for the damage caused by the rains, which have besieged the parish since Wednesday night.

"I believe that the illegal marl pits have contributed to this and the illegal mining and the illegal denuding of the hillsides, like in the Shaw Park area. Deforestation has contributed significantly to the flooding that we are facing today," Member of Parliament for North East St Ann Shahine Robinson told The Gleaner yesterday.

When The Gleaner toured sections hit hard by rainfall yesterday a similar story rang out outside the town of Ocho Rios. Milford Road displayed the brunt of the powerful floodwaters, as it was split into several pieces.

The community of Mansfield Heights, also outside of Ocho Rios, was badly affected by the rains. When The Gleaner arrived, residents on both sides of the road, were sweeping water and mud out of their homes and business places, while some men stood in the middle of the roadway collecting a fee from passing motorists.

"In all my years, me neva see nuttin like this, me house flood out. Bout four feet a water come inna me house bout 2:30 this (yesterday) morning. All me clothes and appliances mash up too," said Crosmond Lathan, a resident of the area.

The rains also affected several businesses across the parish and caused the closure of three schools - Ocho Rios High, Ocho Rios Primary and St John's Preparatory School. The three-storey Shaw Park Guest House, which is located in the Shaw Park Gardens, saw most of its damage on the lower floors when the rains began. Guests had to seek higher ground and proprietor Hazel Reid said she has suffered millions of dollars in damage.

The district of Pimento Walk was also not spared. Several residents were seen in the area scooping mud out of their homes. Paula Tracey was particularly affected, as all her family's belongings were destroyed.

"I'm going to have to find somewhere to go. I don't know where I'm going to find somewhere to stay," she said.