Climate Change Editor
jean-marc.rampersad
@guardian.co.tt
Residents of several areas in T&T were taken by surprise yesterday as freak storms and heavy rains wreaked havoc in a number of communities, toppling trees, ripping off roofs, and causing severe flooding.
On Evans Street in St Augustine, two men escaped serious injury when a tree fell on their vehicle around 10.30 am.
Fruit vendor Roger Richardson said that while speaking with a nearby doubles vendor, he heard a loud noise and saw the tree fall on the vehicle. He said some of his produce was also damaged, but he was happy there were no injuries.
A nearby resident, Aleem Mohammed, said he saw a flash of lightning before the tree fell. He said the Fire Service arrived after about thirty minutes to assist the occupants of the damaged vehicle.
Shortly after, members of the Tunapuna-Piarco Regional Corporation arrived and worked together with the Fire Service to clear the debris from the road.
There were also several reports and videos on social media of toppled trees and sparking power lines on the compound of the University of the West Indies, St Augustine, around the same time.
In Manzanilla, a freak storm yesterday morning took many villagers by surprise and had them seeking safety.
Between 6 and 9 am, strong winds ripped off galvanised sheets from houses and toppled several trees. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Kennedy Maxime said it was the worst experience he had in his entire life. “I saw like the roof leaving the house, followed by the banging of galvanise that was ripped off the roof, leaving the heavy downpour of rain to flood the entire inside of my house and damaging household items. Thank God I suffered no injuries, but I remain traumatised,” he said.
Chairman of the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation, Kenwyn Phillip, who visited the affected residents, said, “We have five houses which were affected by the freak storm, and we are trying our best through the corporation to assist in whatever way we can. The disaster unit would have visited all the houses which were affected by this freak storm.
“I am really asking and hoping that these agencies responsible for assisting in these times, please step up and assist these families who would have been affected by the wind and rain this morning.”
The weather yesterday was a result of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone, which moved over the area early yesterday morning. Torrential rainfall and gusty winds were the main hazards, resulting in several impacts across the northern, eastern and southern areas of Trinidad.
A yellow-level localised flood alert was issued by the T&T Meteorological Service (TTMS) at 10.15 am, with immediate effect, highlighting low-lying and flood-prone areas of Trinidad. The alert was eventually discontinued at 4 pm, once conditions settled.
This localised flood alert was the first of its kind for the year, with the last being issued in November of last year. Flooding was more widespread at that time as river levels were high.
November is the fourth wettest month of the year, according to data from the TTMS. This is usually followed by a transitional month (December) before entering the dry season. —With reporting by Ralph Banwarie
