Go-Jamaica Weather Watch

The community of Manchioneal in Portland has been totally devastated, following the passage of Tropical Storm Gustav, leaving hundreds of residents homeless.

Councillor for the Manchioneal division, Alston Hunter, said dozens of houses along the coastal area, including Kensington and Dumfries, either lost roofs, were demolished, or inundated.

“It is total devastation everywhere,” he said. “Hundreds of residents are now crammed into disaster shelters here in east Portland, and the inclement weather continues to make situations even worse.”

Yesterday Councillor Hunter told The Gleaner that several landslides in Kensington had left that roadway leading into Manchioneal, impassable to vehicular traffic. He said that a team was dispatched to the area to assist with the clearing of trees.

“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 roadway, which might take some time,” said Hunter.

Approximately five disaster shelters are now opened in the Manchioneal area, which is presently occupying more than 250 residents.

In the meantime, The Gleaner tried valiantly to access the roadway leading into Manchioneal, but efforts were unsuccessful. Our news team was also left stranded near a gas station at Long Bay after wind and torrential rain made driving impossible