Bad weather across the country overnight on Thursday left a 72-year-old pensioner and her other 11 family members in Mt St George, Tobago without a roof over their heads.
Shortly after 11pm on Thursday, reports of heavy rain and violent gusts blowing off roofs, toppling trees onto houses and across roads, as well as power outages on the island emerged on social media. This followed an adverse weather alert issued for overnight by the Meteorological Services.
The pensioner, Ruby Solomon of Castara Road, Mt St George, recounted the ordeal to Newsday.
“At approximately 11pm, the high winds started, the rains came down and then few minutes after, current went. As the current went, in a matter of five-ten minutes, the roof went off – it just started to flip up with the high winds – the wind was real strong – and the roof from the back flip over into the front part. After, as the water started to come, I had was to run out the house.”
Solomon, who shared the house with 11 relatives, said she was unable to save any belongings.
[caption id="attachment_910997" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Division of Infrastructure workers clear debris off the Claude Noel Highway in Lowlands after bad weather caused trees to fall and block traffic early Friday morning. - Photo by David Reid[/caption]
“I really didn’t get to save anything or even cover up anything. because I was so frightened. Also at that hour of the night, it was dark – I had was to run out. Everything got damages, everything waterlogged – beds, chairs, everything – from the water. The whole place is soaking.”
She said she was traumatised.
“It real hard. It was really shocking, and I really wasn’t looking for something like this, especially at this time. I never expected to experience something like this.”
She said her daughter contacted the Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), which had since visited.
She is uncertain of her next move.
“We have no idea what would happen next, even at this time.”
When contacted, electoral representative for the area Assemblyman Joel Jack said he had since spoken to TEMA director Allan Stewart, who gave an update on the situation. He said Stewart told him some support was provided to the family and he in turn asked for assistance with urgent repairs from the THA Division of Infrastructure, Quarries and the Environment.
“I subsequently received a message from the division’s secretary, councillor (Kwesi) DesVignes, and also a report was forwarded to me. I also requested from him that DIQE effect urgent repairs to the roof – if a contractor could be dispatched to the house to remedy the situation.”
Stewart said for three days, the family will be provided with shelter.
"We have made arrangements for them to reside at a residential area – a guesthouse in the western end of the island. We provide 72 hours (accommodation) until the Social Services Department gets involved."
Stewart said additionally, the roofs of three
