Persons affected by flooding are asked to contact the CDC on telephone number 226-1027 or 600-7500 (WhatsApp).
Thousands of relief hampers are being prepared as all the regions of the country have now reported some flooding due to heavy rain and the Regional Disaster Risk Management System (RDRMS) has been activated to ensure a timely response to affected communities, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) yesterday said.
Continuous rainfall compounded by high tides have resulted in the disruption of livelihoods for thousands of residents due to flooding and some have had to be evacuated from their homes.
After persistent rainfall over the weekend, the CDC says that all ten administrative regions have reported some level of flooding.
From reports and checks made by this newspaper, villages in Regions 5, 9 and 10 are the most affected.
Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice) councillor, Elroy Adolph yesterday told Stabroek News that close to 45 families had to be evacuated from Lamp Island and the Kwakwani Waterfront, Berbice River – areas that are traditionally inundated during the rainy season.
He explained that most of the families have opted to move in with other relatives.
“With the coronavirus around, people also feel it is safer to stay with their families so we have allowed that. We have at least three families in the shelters and we are looking at having a few more,” the councillor said.
Water levels within the last 48 hours have risen by an estimated four feet after heavy and continuous showers.
“The water level is now about 12 feet because some people have water inside the floor of their homes so it is very bad at the moment. We had a lot of rainfall for today (Sunday) and we have overcast skies so it will rain again,” Adolph said.
Touching on the need for food, he said that many families are unable to cook or leave their homes to get food supplies due to the water levels.
He said that they have informed the CDC of the community’s needs and during President Irfaan Ali’s visit on Saturday they were given the assurance that hampers will be distributed.
“People are not working now and many cannot leave their home because the water is high and the cost to move around is also high so many persons are restricted at home. The need for food is growing but we are here waiting on the CDC to deliver the packages,” he explained.
Over the past 12 days, the CDC has deployed teams to conduct rapid assessments and verification of flood reports across the country.
The assessments were done in collaboration with agencies including the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs), Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and Community Development Councils (CDCs).
The CDC in a post on Facebook yesterday said that it is currently packing thousands of hampers to be distributed to communities that are impacted severely by the floods.
Meanwhile, Region Five (Mahaica-West Berbice) Vice Chairman Rion Peters related to this newspaper that both coastal and riverain communities have been impacted by flooding. He explained that water started to recede from coastal communities after they began working the pumps and opening the sluices at the fall of the tide.
Shelters
However, communities along the Abary and Mahaicony rivers have seen rising levels and efforts are being made to establish shelters and a kitchen to prepare meals.
“We are looking at creating a shelter for the riverain areas and a kitchen so that we can distribute meals to people who cannot cook but can stay at their homes. We are looking at this situation and monitoring it closely,” he added.
He stated too that irrigation works to build up river defences are being undertaken by the Mahaica, Mahaicony, Abary-Agricultural Development Authority.
In Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Regional Chairman Daniel Seeram said that while communities have been impacted it has been minimal.
“The sluices and pumps are working across the region. In Georgetown all the pumps are working 100% but we had a situation this morning where the rainfall and high tides clashed causing flooding in the city. However, the water receded swiftly after the tide began to fall and we were able to open the sluice,” Seeram related.
Most of city was flooded yesterday after persistent rainfall and as of last night low-lying areas remained under water. The community of Albouystown was one of the most affected communities.
Seeram who visited several farming communities on the East Coast called for sanitisation packages to be distributed to households since the water accumulated in the area is mixed with sewage from farms and latrines. The bacterial infection leptospirosis is a particular risk in these conditions.
Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) Chairman Bryan Allicock last night told this newspaper that some areas are being flooded once again as they recorded at least three feet of water in Lethem yesterday. He pointed out that the water levels are continuing to rise across the South and Central Rupununi while Massara in the North Rupununi remains heavily flooded. Water is flowing from flooded Brazilian rivers into these areas.
He stated that they had to use boats and four-wheel drive picks ups to transport supplies to the village yesterday.
Allicock also said that they have been distributing hampers to affected families across the region since food supplies in households have been diminishing.
“Even if some households are not affected by floods they are still affected because their farms are flooded or they can’t get to leave their home and purchase food because some areas are heavily flooded,” he said.
Over in Region Three (West Demerara-Essequibo Islands), the height of water on the ground was between four to six inches and lower flats of several homes are affected, Regional Chairman Mohamed Ayube said. He noted that the communities of Pouderoyen and Vreed-en-Hoop experienced flooding after it was found that the Pouderoyen sluice was left open. Ayube stated that in those communities many residents were affected as water swept into their dwellings.
He added that communities such as Meten-Meer-Zorg North, Tuschen, Hyde Park, Parika, Canals No.1 and No.2 all experienced some level of flooding due to the intense rainfall.
The regional chairman said mobile irrigation pumps have been deployed across the region to bring quick relief to residents and three excavators are clearing main drainage canals to ensure the water flows freely.
He added that five mini excavators are working in communities across the region to clear clogged drains.
The hampers being distributed include personal and feminine hygiene items, sanitation supplies and water purification tablets.
Through the Regional Democratic Councils, additional hampers were distributed to flood-affected residents in Regions 5, 6 and 10. Residents of Mahaicony Creek, Region 5 also received livestock feed.
The CDC said that yesterday Mid Atlantic Oil & Gas Inc presented a cheque valued $10M to support flood relief efforts across Guyana.
