Residents and business owners in the Maraval voiced their frustrations, fears and concerns after heavy rains and flooding wreaked havoc on the community on November 23.

When Newsday visited on November 24, the flooding had long subsided, but clean-up efforts from residents and businesses were still under way.

One resident on Saddle Road spoke to Newsday on the condition of anonymity.

The 68-year-old woman, who lives next to her 95-year-old father and 93-year-old mother, said their homes were badly affected by the flooding.

"The water came all the way inside my parent's house. It affected a couple bedrooms and in the living room it came to the first steps."

The woman showed Newsday inside her parents' house, as well as the backyard

[caption id="attachment_1122640" align="alignnone" width="656"] Gerard Jobe uses a broom to clear silt from a drain at a house on Saddle Road, Maraval on November 24. Flooding affected many areas in Maraval on November 23. - Faith Ayoung[/caption]

She told Newsday the furniture from the living room was power washed and placed in the back of the house to dry, as it had been muddied and wet from the floods.

Newsday also noticed mountains of cushions packed on a counter inside the house.

"All the Christmas decorations – lights and tree – were also destroyed," the woman said frantically.

Wearing her muddied clothes from hours of clean-up, the woman bent over on at least three occasions, holding her knees as she struggled with the strain of standing too long.

Her posture haunched in exhaustion, each movement revealing the toll the effort had taken, as she sought any relief from the discomfort.

"Thankfully, the men that work for me called and asked if we needed help. We began cleaning around 8 am today and it's about 2.30 pm. I've only sat down once for the day."

When Newsday left around 2.45 pm, clean-up efforts were still far from completion.

The woman also said a tank in the back of the house fell over and a pipe was broken.

She said they have done their part in trying to mitigate the effects of flooding at their home.

[caption id="attachment_1122642" align="alignnone" width="1024"] A backhoe clears debris near a bridge on November 24 after flooding on Saddle Road, Maraval, a day earlier. - Faith Ayoung[/caption]

"We have put a hump at the top of the driveway and put check valves on all the river exits.

"We have sent men multiple times in the river to clear the (tree) roots that cover the check valves. We have done everything humanly possible to save ourselves as no one is coming to help."

She said they have asked the authorities for help, but their pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

She said her elderly father lives in fear each time it rains.

"With global warming and the intensity of the rain now, it's very scary.

"We are grateful that we all have life, but it is upsetting that we have to spend all this time and money cleaning."

She approximated that the damages and clean-up efforts would cost her between $4,000-5,000 and said it could be even h