The parish of St. Thomas has suffered severe devastation in the aftermath of Hurricane Dean.

Photo by Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer: this section of the Mount Sanai main road in St. Thomas has sunk to about two and a half feet below its original level. Motorists were having a rough time navigating the rough surface before the arrival of Hurricane Dean yesterday.

Several communities, including Rio Grande, Hillside, Logan Lane, Scotland and Pomfret are currently marooned.

When The Gleaner spoke to disaster relief coordinator, Millicent Blake, she indicated people were already trying to pick up the pieces left by ‘Dean’.

As early as Sunday morning, the Rose Hill main road had seen serious erosion, and was reduced to single lane traffic. Eye witness reports indicate that presently only cars and small vans can navigate that road.

Predictably, the Yallahs Fording itself was the first to be affected by rains associated with Hurricane Dean and is now impassible.

What is most worrisome for the people of St. Thomas is the fact that the Easington area, used as an alternative to the Yallahs Fording, is only barely passable and that situation could worsen as more rain is expected within 24 hours.

 Ms. Blake said 200 persons were in shelters across the parish

Hurricane Dean did not deter a group of teenaged boys from Eleven Miles in St. Thomas, playing a game of scrimmage, first in a field and later in the road where few vehicles were passing at 10 a.m. this morning.

Signs of life going on as usual could be seen in the odd coconut vendor looking for a sale, men enjoying their favourite brew at one open bar, while others hurried to secure their property.

From St. Thomas to the airport road, in Kingston, gulls huddled on roof tops, goats gathered on church porches and the verandas of homes and dogs grouped close to their masters. It seemed the instinct of these animals were alerting them that the weather system was about to birth danger.

Photo by Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer: occupants of the shelter Easington Primary School, St. Thomas await the arrival of Hurricane Dean this morning. 
 
The shelter at Easington Primary School in St. Thomas had 62 persons there. All were in good spirits having passed Saturday night there but were in need of a few essentials such as raincoats, boots and mild medication.

Close to the sea, locals gathered to photograph the huge waves that came in at 20-second intervals. An onlooker remarks, “These are not as big as the ones that we saw during Hurricane Ivan.” When asked why be out if you are not part of the essential services, a member of the group tells The Gleaner, “Just for the fun of it.”

But it’s no fun for the scores of homeless people who lie on makeshift cardboard and plastic beds along the piazzas of Duke and Barry Streets. They seem oblivious to the peril just hours away.

The population on the parade in downtown Kingston was increased by a team of journalists from Reuters news agency and The New York Times. They captured the inactivity of downtown Kingston, deserted except for a blanket of garbage – fodder for the drains and the once glorious Kingston Harbour.

It was 11:15 a.m. and the wait continued… 

Feedback: barbara.ellington@gleanerjm.com