Gareth Davis and Athaliah Reynolds, Gleaner Writers

Herlene Murray (foreground), a resident of Long Bay, Portland, examines her bar after strong winds from Tropical Storm Gustav destroyed the roof and outer walls of the wooden structure yesterday. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

Up to late last night, residents of Portland had faced the brunt of Tropical Storm Gustav, while other parishes were reporting damage less than they had expected.

Gustav continued its deadly meandering across the Caribbean yesterday with Jamaica firmly in its sights.

The storm had left a death toll of 59 as it mowed through Haiti and the Dominican Republic before changing course and taking dead aim at Jamaica.

By mid-afternoon, Jamaica came to a standstill as stores closed their doors and emergency units moved into high alert to prepare for the tropical storm which was carrying winds of 70 miles or 110 kilometres per hour.

But while most of the island appeared to have been spared Gustav's devastation, this was not so for sections of Portland, which was the first parish to feel its brunt force.

Shambles

While up to last night there had been no reports of fatalities, Gustav left several Portland communities in shambles.

Hundreds of residents of Manchioneal, Long Bay and Black Rock were left homeless as Gustav ravaged the areas.

The roadway along the Long Bay main road, which leads into Manchioneal, was left impassable by sand, fallen tree limbs and other debris.

Councillor for the Manchioneal division, Alston Hunter, told The Gleaner that dozens of houses in Kensington and Long Road lost their roofs while some houses were demolished or flooded.

As The Gleaner made its way through the district of Black Rock, several residents could beseen standing outside the Fair Prospect Primary School.

According to Josephine Cousins, a resident of the community, at least five families had lost their roofs and had turned up at the school for shelter. However, it too had lost its roof.

"It is total devastation everywhere. Several residents are now crammed into disaster shelters here in east Portland, and the weather continues to make the situation worse," Hunter said.

According to Hunter, land slippages at Kensington left the roadway leading into Manchioneal impassable.

He said a team had been dispatched to the area to assist with the clearing of the roadway.

"It is unlikely that residents will be able to recover from this devastation any time soon. We are awaiting the arrival of heavy-duty equipment to clear the blocked road, which might take some time," Hunter added.

Late yesterday, five disaster shelters were opened in Manchioneal with more than 250 persons seeking refuge.

The Gleaner attempted to brave the flood waters leading into Manchioneal but the fast rising currents forced those efforts to be abandoned.

Stranded

These children are among those who sought shelter at the Yallahs Primary School in St Thomas yesterday. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

Instead, The Gleaner team was left stranded near a gas station in Long Bay as the strong breeze and flood waters prevented any movement.

Next door to the gas station, several people were seen looting a bar in Long Bay.

The looters removed a variety of beverages, furniture and food items before the police arrived.

The police later established curfews in sections of St Mary and Manchester but there was no word out of the police high command on its measures to address the looting in Portland.

Over the rest of the island, storm surges brought strong waves in several communities while the persistent rainfall left persons fearful last night.