Residents of Charity, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), are beginning to see some relief as floodwaters that inundated sections of the community gradually recede following intensified drainage operations by regional officials.
The response has brought together the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) and the Ministry of Agriculture, with technical teams working to remove standing water and improve the flow through the community’s drainage network.
Regional Chairman Devin Mohan and Vice Chairman Humace Oodit, along with regional engineers, have been conducting assessments on the ground while drainage works continue.
Several measures have been implemented, including the deployment of excavators, the activation of pumps and the clearing of overgrown vegetation from drainage channels. The removal of weeds and other obstructions is expected to allow water to move more freely through the drainage system.
Kokers are also being operated to facilitate the movement of water, while Enhancement workers have been assisting with the clearing and cleaning of drains in affected sections.
Meanwhile, additional pumps are being mobilised as the technical team continues to assess the situation and determine where further interventions are needed.
The flooding, however, has already resulted in losses and damage for some residents, with household appliances, poultry pens and home gardens among the areas affected.
One resident, Donna Mc Lennon, described the situation as alarming, saying she was confronted by several inches of water inside her home when she got out of bed.
Mc Lennon said the water had spread across the floor, reaching approximately seven inches in some areas, leaving her to quickly assess what could be moved to safety.
“When I woke up and stepped off my bed, the water was already way up to my ankles. I hurried to move whatever I could to higher ground, but the washing machine, chair set, refrigerator and other appliances were already in water,” she said.
The situation has prompted residents to take steps to protect appliances and other belongings as drainage works continue across the community.
Another resident said the flooding also affected her home garden and several household belongings. She said the rising water covered sections of her garden, damaging vegetables and other plants she had been cultivating, while water also entered parts of her home and affected household items stored at floor level.
The reaident said the situation was particularly worrying because she had invested time and money into her garden and was now facing the prospect of losing some of the produce she had been expecting to harvest.
Regional officials remain on ground to reducing the water levels and improving drainage conditions, with the continued operation of pumps, excavation works and the clearing of waterways expected to assist in bringing further relief to affected residents.
The drainage response is expected to continue as officials monitor the affected areas and work to reduce the possibility of additional flooding.
