Go-Jamaica Weather Watch

Francine Black, Staff Reporter

Several residents who had sought escape from the wrath of Hurricane Dean at provided shelters were today displeased with the conditions they turned up to find.

Photo by Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer: Cynthia Smith and her grandson try remain calm ease despite knowing that Hurricane Dean was about to hit Jamaica. Ms. Smith was one of 62 persons sheltering at the Easington Primary School in St. Thomas.  

The Gleaner news team visited sections of the St. Thomas, St. Catherine and Clarendon where the residents had sought refuge from the storm.

Norma Sewell, shelter manager at the Easington Primary School in St. Thomas, where about 62 persons had been staying since Saturday, said she needed more food and medication for children. “We brought some things but it is not enough. We need food and we need like Children’s Panadol and other medication like that for the children,” she said.

She added that she did not have a raincoat or water boots to go outside when necessary. People at the shelter came from Sun Valley, Spring Garden and Easington.

Over at the G.C. Foster College in Spanish Town, St. Catherine,  residents turned up to find unsecured windows, windows without panes and broken doors on classrooms where they were supposed to stay. In addition shelter manager, Winsome Keane-Dawes, said the bathrooms were filthy and unfit for use.

Over at the Portland Cottage Primary, in Clarendon, Inez Williams, the shelter manager said persons were arriving faster than expected and they had already surpassed the number of residents expected. The shelter, which can hold 250 persons had 226 persons when the news team visited although the shelter manager expected 220 persons.

David Dixon, shelter manager for the Bustamante High School in Lionel Town, Clarendon, said over 100 persons were at the shelter. He said that while the high school was large enough to accommodate a large number of persons, he could not manage alone.