A cone-shaped wind was seen in Region Five during a ferocious storm that tore through a 1.2-mile stretch, causing damage to over 20 properties and leaving residents scrambling for shelter.
The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) yesterday said that residents affected by Friday’s freak storm at Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice will be receiving replacement roofing sheets today and other forms of assistance in the coming days. Region Five has named the specific communities affected as Plantation Experiment and Plantation Hope.
The CDC said that it has conducted an assessment of the situation which revealed that about 20 properties were damaged along a 1.2-mile stretch. The storm began on the evening of Friday, May 6 and was a combination of unusually high winds and heavy rains. Additionally, a cone-shaped wind was seen moving temporarily overhead, the CDC informed.
CDC’s assessment team initiated its assessment at the northern end of the impacted area where they observed that almost two kilometres (1.2 miles) of property were affected along a straight path heading northeast to southwest. There were varying degrees of damage to properties and structures, mainly roofs and fences.
Bath Settlement primarily consists of farmers and as such, the CDC says, some crops, chicken pens and storage sheds were also significantly impacted.
“One resident reported that a quantity of her baby chickens died as a result of the storm. Residents of Bath Settlement also reported that many household appliances, furniture, mechanical, electronic and electrical equipment, clothing, school supplies and a motorcycle all suffered extensive damage. Zinc sheets were seen scattered sporadically in several yards, belonging to several properties throughout the area,” CDC noted in a statement.
The Commission said that a quantity of food and cleaning hampers have been delivered to the Regional Chairman of Region 5 and are currently being distributed to affected residents of Bath Settlement. It added that coordinated efforts between the Regional and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and other agencies will see the situation being monitored more closely.
The Hydrometeorological Office of the Ministry of Agriculture has advised all residents countrywide to prepare for consistent rainfall as the rainy season is in full effect. Between 30mm (1.1 inches) and 70mm (2.7 inches) of rainfall is expected over the next twenty-four (24) hours. Persons are urged to contact their local authorities if they are impacted in any way or the National Emergency Monitoring System (NEMS) ON 600-7500 or 226-1114 at any time.
