Sudden heavy winds in the county of Berbice yesterday morning completely destroyed the roof of a house in Blairmont while neighbouring residents lost several zinc sheets from their roofs. The winds also uprooted a utility pole in Clifton, Corentyne, leaving residents in the area without phone and internet services.
Reeta Persaud, 50, of Lot 71 Number 1 Blair-mont, West Bank Berbice, yesterday told Stabroek News that the heavy winds started just around 7.30 am, and in a matter of minutes destroyed their roof, thus allowing the rain to freely enter the upper flat of their house and thoroughly soak their possessions.
“Right now me pressure gone up, me take on a lot, all me things, all me clothes everything wet and the breeze fly away me netting. It just come heavy,” the traumatised woman related.
While she could not give an estimate for the damage, she disclosed that she and her husband had recently repaired their house “piece by piece.”
According to Persaud, they have since made temporary repairs to the roof to prevent any more rain from entering as they consider their next step. “We will sleep downstairs but we put that on so the water can’t come in because all me clothes and everything done wet and the sun na come out to dry them.”
Meanwhile, she stated that they would be open to receiving assistance from anyone and can be contacted on telephone number 638-7467.
Stabroek News was also told that the heavy winds caused other residents in the area to lose zinc sheets from their houses and even uprooted two trees in the area. As of yesterday afternoon, those residents had located their blown-away zinc sheets and repaired their roofs.
Meanwhile in Clifton, Corentyne, just around 7 am yesterday, the heavy winds uprooted a GTT utility pole leaving residents without Wi-Fi and phone services. One resident told Stabroek News that he made attempts to contact GTT but initially did not receive a proper response.
However, as of yesterday afternoon the utility pole was being replaced.
