Squall sends trees crashing down on house, rips off roofs at Linden

Jul 28, 2014 News

Lucky to be alive: The Cummings family

A family of seven escaped death by hiding under their beds after several large trees in their backyard came crashing down on their home during a thunderstorm which pummeled Linden yesterday afternoon.

Several other buildings across Linden suffered various degrees of damage, but the Lot Five, South Amelia’s Ward home of Nadia Cummings and her family, bore the brunt of the storm’s fury.

The roof of the Mackenzie Sports Club also suffered extensive damage, with heavy winds ripping off almost the entire roof. Kaieteur news understands that the roofs of at least five other homes in the Habitat Scheme in Central Amelia’s Ward also suffered similar damage.

Nadia Cummings said she wasn’t alarmed at first when she heard the storm outside. Others at home at the time included Netta Cummings, Keniesha Joseph, Shemar Cummings, Leon and Harold Benjamin and five-month old Caleb.

“Then suddenly we heard badam..badam and we heard like pebble falling on the roof. With that everybody run under the bed. We take the five month baby and we put a pillow so the baby could be comfortable…and we started praying ad crying and praying and crying.

“Then there was another big crash, then suddenly I look up and was light, because was the entire roof caved in.” The storm had uprooted three huge trees in their yard.

Fortunately for the family, the room that they chose to seek refuge in was the only on that remained intact.

Nadia Cummings is thankful that the entire family escaped unhurt, although there was extensive damage to their roof and she’s unsure where the family will sleep.

Power was subsequently disconnected from the area to enable repairs to be conducted.