Councilor Urges Government to Return to Drawing Board

Councilor in Central Jamaica, Claudia Morant Baker is urging the Government to revisit its disaster preparedness strategy after heavy rains from Tropical Storm Ida drove fear into residents Friday, August 27, when several roadways in Manchester and Clarendon were rendered unsafe for motorists and pedestrians.

Up to the evening of August 27, sections of the Bustamante Highway remained blocked following continued rainfall, the incident left many people stranded. The people say it is the worst case of flooding and landslides they have experienced in years.

The aftermath of Ida has left homes in southwest Clarendon flooded, many roads impassable, and the alley bridge covered in raging water. The Councilor for the Porus division in Clarendon, Morant Baker, says many communities are badly affected and several reports of major landslides.

Many motorists parked their vehicles on the roadside deeming it unwise to challenge the large bodies of water separating Clarendon from Manchester. The toll gate main road was also covered in water; residents in the surrounding communities say this is the first they have seen such flooding in these parts.

Meanwhile, southern Manchester was not spared the heavy showers of Ida as many homes were also left flooded. The Councilor says though the drains have been cleaned it is obvious they cannot withstand the volume of water produced by storms. She is urging the authorities to return to the drawing board.

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