As a result of severe flooding along the coast yesterday triggered by heavy rain, Prime Minister Mark Phillips has directed the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) to partially activate the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC).
This was disclosed by the Director General of the CDC Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig.
According to the Hydro-met Department, George-town recorded the highest level of rainfall in the country, with approximately 120.3mm of rain between Tuesday and yesterday morning. This amounts to almost 5 inches of water. South George-town, Bel Air, Alberttown, Queenstown, Avenue of the Republic, Bourda, and Kitty/Campbellville, are among the areas that have been affected by continuous heavy rainfall.
Craig further revealed that the Inter-Agency Task Force that was formed just yesterday to assess impacts of heavy rainfall was scheduled to meet around 4:30 pm yesterday to form an action plan and to discuss whether there is need for NEOC to be activated fully. He also said that they would also discuss if there is a need for shelters and if social support should be given to affected households. Up to press time, there were no reports on those discussions.
The inter-agency Task Force comprises representatives from the Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Public Works, National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), Mayor & City Council (M&CC), and Regional officials.
In a statement yesterday, the Ministry of Public Works informed that it has dispatched regional engineers and technical officers to assess the situation throughout the ten administrative regions in light of the above-normal rainfall. Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill later stated that he doesn’t believe that there is any reason for a major alarm at this time but stressed that everything that can be done is being done to alleviate the present “inconvenience.”
During the earlier part of yesterday, the CDC along with Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha; Minister of Local Government, Nigel Dharamlall; and the Mayor of George-town, Ubraj Narine, took to the streets of the city to conduct separate assessments of the flooding.
Craig observed that almost every area in the city had some level of water accumulation. “In some instances you have water on the roads about 7-8 inches (deep) and in some instances we have water in people’s homes and then water accumulated in some yards,” he noted.
Many government officials attributed the severe flooding on the coast to the heavy rainfall and the early morning high-tide which meant that the sluice doors had to remain closed until the tide fell.
The M&CC said that the sluices were opened from 10am to allow the floodwaters to recede. They noted however, that the water will recede slowly as the drainage capacity only caters for about 2 inches of water in 24 hours.
“Our engineers have been working around the clock to ensure these pump stations are functioning effectively. We know for a fact that the entire coast is below sea level and with climate change contributing to higher water levels and unpredictable weather conditions, the Coastal Regions have become even more vulnerable. Our current drainage system is only capable of draining just about 2 to 2.5 inches of water within a 24-hour period. Given the fact that Georgetown experienced almost 5 inches of rainfall, you can understand the amount of pressure it placed on the drainage system,” Mustapha explained during a separate outing.
Meanwhile, Craig noted that considering that the next high tide was scheduled for 5pm yesterday, the kokers will once again have to be closed. “From all indications and based on discussion with pump attendants, I was informed around 14:00 hours they will have to start closing the doors of the kokers and the sluices which means water will not be able to drain and with the prediction and forecast provided by the Hydromet service, there is going to be continuous rainfall up until this evening which would mean that places that are already flooded will continue to see an increase in flooding,” he said.
In addition, Craig said due to the magnitude of the floods, the CDC would work closely with the M&CC to help identify the worst-hit communities and the most affected residents to support them by providing them with cleaning items.
At the time Stabroek News contacted Craig, he said they were still determining how many households are affected.
Like other government officials, Mustapha said that most of the drainage structures are operational and that systems are being put in place to reduce flooding in the city soon.
“In addition to having our fixed pumps working, we have placed a number of mobile pumps at specific areas that need additional drainage. We are also desilting the main drainage canals in these communities. I am pleading with residents to desist from littering. We spend a lot of money to install these structures and often times they are damaged when garbage gets into the pipes and other parts of the structures. We need to develop a partnership. Government will play its part but we need the citizens to play their part and be more responsible with their garbage disposal,” Mustapha said.
According to a statement from the Agriculture Ministry, Mustapha later met with a team of engineers from India, who are presently in Guyana to install nine new pumps in flood prone areas along the coast. “The team indicated that it will take a minimum of two weeks to install each pump, and installation will occur concurrently with other stations. The pumps will be placed at strategic areas in Den Amstel, Hope, Mora Point, and Rose Hall. Pumps will also be placed at Princes Street, Sussex Street and Cowan Street in Georgetown,” the statement read.
The team is expected to commence installation of the pumps on Thursday.
When contacted last night, the Mayor said that most of the water had already receded. He noted that when the sluice doors were closed, the pumps started to operate.
Meanwhile, the National Weather Watch Centre (NWWC) had reported that continuous rain, showers and thundershowers should be expected across all regions of Guyana. However regions One, Seven, Eight, Nine and Ten reported little to no rainfall yesterday.
Although Wismar in Region Ten experienced some flooding on Tuesday, Regional Chairman Deron Adams told Stabroek News that he had received no reports about any flooding yesterday. However, the Region did experience minor showers.
In Region Eight, a regional official reported that they are experiencing heavy rainfall and it seems that the weather pattern would continue, but as of yesterday, there was no flooding in the area.
In Region Two, according to the Regional Chairman Vilma DaSilva, there was some flash flooding in the Upper and Lower Pomeroon which also occurred as a result of heavy rain and the high tides.
Some of the areas that were affected include Charity, Lima, Anna Regina, Reliance, and Annandale Riverstown. DaSilva added that when the sluice doors were opened the water began to recede but at the time she spoke with Stabroek News, the floodwaters hadn’t fully receded but the situation was under control. In addition, she noted that although they are expecting more heavy showers the sluices and pumps are in good condition and would be able to handle the situation.
