More rains for St Mary as parish recovers from flood

Damage assessment of yesterday's torrential rains which caused widespread flooding in Port Maria, St Mary has not yet been completed, but the Meteorological Service is forecasting more showers and windy conditions for that section of the island.

A trough east of the island dumped showers on most northern parishes yesterday, particularly in the north eastern parish of St Mary.

Heavy rains caused damage to businesses and streets in Port Maria, where a group of shoppers at a supermarket were trapped for hours by rising flood waters. A motor vehicle was also submerged by the waters.

Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Ronald Jackson says the flooding in Port Maria is an issue of spatial planning. He explains that the town is located between two rivers and is also below sea level.

He says while the ODPEM does not have direct responsibility for disaster coordination at the local level, it is assisting with the welfare needs of residents where the parish authorities cannot.

The ODPEM says Oracabessa and sections of Junction in the vicinity of Georgia in St Mary were also affected by the rains.