Employees of T&TEC remove a sheet of galvanise
from a high tension wire at Mucurapo Road,
St James, yesterday after residents claim a
twister damaged buildings in the area.
PHOTO: DAVID WEARS

St James residents said yesterday that a twister touched down at Mucurapo Road, St James, tearing off roofs, damaging property and scaring residents. Last week Sunday, a twister was seen miles away at Warrenville in Central Trinidad. Yesterday, residents said a tornado flipped-off roof tops, caused floods, and heavy rain at Mucurapo Road. “I was home and I heard a roaring noise with lightning striking...I was afraid and I didn’t know what to do,” said Joanne Mendoza. “I had to call on God and pray. The billboard and the wall fell down, and the back of my yard was damaged.”
“I am shook up, it was the first time this happen.”

Eyewitnesses said they saw garbage and debris rise up in a column above the ground that moved in a circular motion. “I saw rubbish rise up in the air and it was circulating. The garbage then flew onto the roof and started to raise up the roof of the building,” an eyewitness said. The funnel then moved to a building, damaging electricity and causing a small fire at a house. Meanwhile, thieves took good advantage as commuters and pedestrians braved flood waters and attempted to walk to Laventille. People reported that they were robbed while walking at Foster and Old St Joseph Roads in Port-of-Spain. Port-of-Spain Division police were deployed to the area to protect the commuters. Midday showers during this past week destroyed crops, livestock and damaged homes through out the East-West Corridor.

Farmers complained that fields of crops were lost when waters flooded the land. Residents were marooned in their houses as waters rose to a high level again yesterday. Commuters, motorists and store owners complained yesterday as flood waters washed down the streets of Port-of-Spain. “The Mayor and the Prime Minister should come out here and see this...My store is flooded out,” said a store keeper on Frederick Street. Chairman of the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation Patricia Mejias said they were attempting to assist homeowners within the past few days. “We already started to assist those in the community but, they need to put up their belongings...The water is coming and will for a while,” she said, after she heard the forecast of rain over weekend. Mejias said she toured St Augustine South and saw that the area was under water.

“We are hoping the water will run off quickly...It went down fast on Thursday and we are hoping it will happen,” she said. An official at the Meteorological Office said yesterday that it was possible that a twister did touch down in St James. He also warned that more heavy showers accompanied by gusty winds, thunder and lightning would be imminent. A forecaster at the office said yesterday’s heavy downpour, especially over Port-of-Spain and western Trinidad, was normal. “We are in the rain season so these types of activities are normal,” the forecaster said. He, however, warned that since the atmosphere was heated this would result in the rapid development of clouds. Tornadoes, the forecaster said, might also be spotted. “The wind also is very light and there may also be the possibility of tornadoes forming but again this was normal given this type of conditions,” he said.

The Meteorological Service, which also issued a release, stated that T&T was not under any tropical storm threat, watch or warning.
A release issued from the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) said following heavy showers, eight municipal corporations received reports of flooding. Teams comprising disaster management co-ordinators from the municipalities, along with officers from the Ministry of Social Development and Cepep workers, have been conducting assessments and carrying out clean-up operations. They said agencies were on the alert to render assistance. “The ODPM has advised communities to review its preparedness measures such as protecting valuables and relocating to areas that are not normally affected by flash flooding,” the release said.
(With reporting by Geisha Kowlessar)

LEFT: A woman makes her way through flood waters on Edward Street, Port-of-Spain, yesterday.
RIGHT: Motorists had to drive carefully at the Barataria Roundabout, yesterday. PHOTOS: ANDRE ALEXANDER