With several rivers rising above thresholds in South Trinidad yesterday, many families were praying and hoping that floods would spare their homes last night.
Watercourses in Penal, Barrackpore and Woodlands began spilling around noon as high tide slowed drainage. Levels were also higher than usual in the Princes Town municipality.
For Vindra Mangroo and her family, who live on the bank of the Oropouche River along Suchit Trace, Penal, the water was a few inches under their home. Mangroo said the river had already spilt to under her house when she woke yesterday morning. She said she, her husband and four children had nowhere else to go, noting people stole their food the last time they relocated to an emergency shelter.
“We do be frightened because remember we have our animals. Remember, we have our tanks. We have it tied down, but sometimes it could burst. It might go away. We might not get it back. And then remember the house is in the river, so you cannot tell how deep the post is. You do not know when water comes pushing out,” Mangroo said.
Penal/Debe Regional Corporation chairman Dr Allen Sammy reported widespread flooding in Woodland yesterday.
Meanwhile, Siparia Regional Corporation (SRC) chairman Denish Sankersingh said the weather adversely affected the municipality, with floods in Palo Seco, Erin, Cedros, De Gannes Village, Santa Flora and Quarry Village. Some people were unable to get to their homes.
Sankersingh said it was likely that the corporation would have to relocate some families, as several homes were under threat.
“The resultant build-up will come because of rain that has fallen. That is where the problems come. Although we would not see it today when the water accumulates, we will see negative effects tomorrow (today). We are trying to put whatever limited measures we have in place, but yes, we expect some negative consequences with the build-up of the water and the resultant flooding,” Sankersingh said.
The SRC council spent yesterday coordinating resources to assist those affected. Sankersingh said they were also trying to put additional contingencies in place.
The Princes Town Regional Corporation suffered no floods, but chairman Gowrie Roopnarine said river levels were high. He said if rain fell overnight, flooding was likely. The picture was different in the Mayaro/Rio Claro Regional Corporation, where chairman Raymond Cozier said the municipality experienced overcast conditions for most of the day. Cozier said there were no breaches of rivers.
Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation chairman Henry Awong said his municipality also fared well under the passing tropical wave.