Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
A policeman looks down at the spot where the roadway once existed in Mount Lebanus, St Thomas. Rains associated with Tropical Storm Noel caused severe damage to the community, resulting in hundreds of residents being marooned in the area.

Portland, known for its natural beauty and enchanting ambience, has been affected frequently by natural disasters that have hit the island. Yet, the parish, which is flood-prone in many sections, is a long way from being prepared to cope with a disaster.

Mayor of Port Antonio and chairman of the Portland Parish Council, Lieutenant Commander Floyd Patterson, says groundwork for the 2008 hurricane season, which began over a month ago, is not yet complete.

"Based on the level that I want to get to, I would say we are about 75 per cent ready, but we are continuing the effort," he tells The Sunday Gleaner.

According to Patterson, who also heads the parish-disaster committee, all emphasis is now being placed on cleaning the drains throughout the parish capital to minimise the possibility of flooding.

Unpreparedness

While acknowledging that things should have been in place prior to the June 1 start of the hurricane season, Mayor Patterson said that the council's reliance on funding from central government contributed to its state of unpreparedness.

The local authority has since received $4.5 million, which was disbursed among the councillors to begin work in their respective divisions, and, according to the ex-army officer, another $3 million has recently been approved. No outreach exercise has been done, and this, says the mayor, is crucial.

"Everybody in Jamaica should know by now that we are in the hurricane season," the parish council chairman argues. "The radio programmes, The Gleaner, television, have been telling people; and based on what they (the people) have experienced over the years, they should know by now the areas that are susceptible to flooding and that they should prepare."

When The Sunday Gleaner visited Grant's Level in the Rio Grande Valley area, there was no evidence of the catastrophe caused by the flood rains which ravaged that farming community some 10 years ago, resulting in loss of life and infrastructural damage running into millions of dollars.

Persons killed in that incident were Richard 'Jerky' Bell; Vernal Doulat, a 62-year-old jeweller, his wife Marcia, 46; Luther Dyce, 76, pensioner; and, Walford Minott, a 29-year-old labourer.

While many have erased the horrors of that tragedy, 48-year-old businesswoman Carlene Sherwood, who lost relatives in that disaster, remembers the frightening experience as if it were yesterday.

"It has been 10 years now, but to me, it is like yesterday. To lose persons who are close to you in such a manner, is not something one will easily forget." she says.

While the local disaster plans are slow, some individuals, based on past experience, have been putting their own disaster-mitigation strategies in place.

Vincent Swire's home was swept away by waters from the Rio Grande, which runs along his property. He has since constructed a spanking, new dwelling for his family, but this one is on columns.

"I thought that building it this way would allow the water to flow through and we would be safe, but the 2003 disaster proved me wrong," he explains. Despite the precautions taken, Swire claims that flood waters "far exceeded" the 19-foot gauge erected to the rear of his house.

Minimise flooding

He believes, however, that if the drains and gullies are cleaned, and the section of the Rio Grande between the district of Fellowship and his locality is desilted, this would minimise flooding in the area. "The only fear we have right now is of the river itself," Swire says.

However, other residents are pointing to an alleged illegal sand-mining operation in the area, arguing that the procedure used to mine the ore could undermine the safety of the community should a disaster occur.

Mayor Patterson is downplaying the reported concerns, stating that it might not be a case of illegal sand mining, but could be a situation of improper mining practices. The council, he says, will be investigating the operation.

The council is also paying keen attention to coastal towns such as Manchioneal, Port Antonio, St Margaret's Bay, Hope Bay and Buff Bay, as there are concerns about the threat of high seas during a natural disaster.

Communities in the Rio Grande Valley, such as Mill Bank, Cornwall Barracks, Seaman's Valley and River's View suffer mainly from land slippages, which, Patterson says, is attributable to unacceptable farming practices. Swift River, Fruitful Vale, Bybrook and Cascade are some of the areas in the western belt of the parish to have suffered extensively in the past and are still vulnerable to disasters.

However, Deputy Superintendent Lewingston Gooden of the Portland Fire Station says his men are prepared for any possible occurrence. "We are ready," he states confidently. "We have been making preparation, and we are confident that we will again do the task required."

Reverification exercise

According to Patrice Grey, acting disaster coordinator for Portland, there are 77 registered shelters and approximately 150 trained shelter managers in the parish. She said that a reverification exercise is currently under way to establish the suitability of these facilities.

Mayor Patterson also revealed that plans were being made for the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management officers to conduct refresher courses with all the emergency workers. He also gave the assurance that the public-health department was in constant dialogue with the parish council and was ready to deal with any eventuality.

"We depend heavily on the health department to guide us as to the sanitary conditions," he says, "from the buildings to the handling of food, to the manner in which garbage is disposed in shelters and the communities in general."

Corporal Debbie Douglas, Constabulary Communication Network liaison officer for Portland, tells The Sunday Gleaner that the police are prepared to play their role.

"We have an obligation to the citizenry to ensure that lives are preserved and the property of the citizens are protected," states Mayor Patterson.

- M. T.

At-risk communities