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Millions lost in West Demerara flood
Residents from villages stretching along West Coast Demerara, (WCD) are counting their losses while simultaneously trying to recover from two days of heavy tides caused by severe overtopping of the sea walls.
As flood water begins receding, residents affected by the recent high tides are cleaning their homes and disposing of items that were damaged as they brace for more high tides expected to last until Tuesday, March 6.
In anticipation, some villagers have placed sandbags in front of their homes while other made temporary concrete walls to prevent flood waters from causing further damage.
The overtopping was described by residents as the worst in at least two decades.
Kaieteur News visited and spoke with residents from the affected areas who noted Ocean View Uitvlugt, WCD was hit the worse.
A Farmer points to the area where his chickens were before they were washed away by the flood.
Vijanti, a grocery shop owner said she lost millions of dollars in the flood. She explained that her entire bottom flat, where her business is located, was covered in about three feet of water.
“(The water) affected me too much, I lost like close to eight million, my whole shop flood, all in my house and my wall divider damage,” added Vijanti.
“When I saw the water, I picked up my purse, my passport and some money and called my sister to come collect me,” the distressed woman told Kaieteur News.
As if the flood was not bad enough, Vijanti said someone tried to break into her home on Friday evening.
She told Kaieteur News that she was unable to sleep so she decided to sit on the balcony; while there, she said observed someone under a chair.
Vijanti said she shouted and the individual ran away. She said she alerted the police and the suspect was later apprehended.
Residents told Kaieteur News that the water came so quickly, they were unable to save much. Some persons had to be removed from their homes and placed in temporary shelters set up by the Civil Defence Commission,(CDC) at the Uitvlugt Community Centre and the Uitvlugt Secondary School.
Vijanti looks at the damage caused by the flood
While some were able to save a few items, Latchman Rambarran, of 22 Fourth Street, Ocean View, Uitvlugt, said all he could have saved was a refrigerator and some small items, all of which were placed on a table in the yard.
Farmers in the area were also severely affected. Sukhdeo said he lost almost all of his animals and crops.
“…I lost all my livestock: 200 chickens that were five weeks already, turkeys, ducks and a whole set of baby chickens,” he said.
Another resident told Kaieteur News the force with which the water came shattered her downstairs bedroom windows. She was thankful, however, that no one slept in the room that day.
A fisherman in the area said he lost $1.1million when his seine was washed into the sea.
Villagers said officials from the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), Ministry of Health and Communities visited the area and promised to assist residents in the area.
Meanwhile, on a visit to the area, Prime Minister (Ag), Carl Greenidge, assessed the damages. He spoke with villagers and distributed disinfectant.
Greenidge told the media that over 300 households were affected yesterday by the overtopping that occurred as a result of the high tides.
High tides are expected to continue until Tuesday. Today, tides are expected to be at their peak at around 06:06hrs at 9.2 feet and 18:25hrs rising to 9.1feet respectively.
Tomorrow, the tide will be at 9 feet and 19:02 hrs, it is expected to be 8.8 feet high and on Tuesday, 07:16 hrs at 8.7 feet high.
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