Severe flooding displaced nearly 2,000 people in Jamaica due to torrential rains influenced by Hurricane Dennis, which passed 60 kilometers off the north-eastern coast on its way to Cuba. Prime Minister P. J. Patterson highlighted that the already saturated ground, resulting from prior rainfall, exacerbated the flooding situation as heavy rains continued to fall. This combination led to significant flooding and road blockages in central and eastern parishes, complicating the delivery of vital supplies to shelters in affected areas.

Published Friday, July 8, 2005 

Near miss

... But ‘Dennis’ floods roads, sends thousands to shelters

John Myers Jr. and Tyrone Reid/Staff Reporters

Nearly 2,000 persons are now being housed in shelters due to rising waters triggered by torrential rains influenced by Hurricane Dennis. The centre of the hurricane passed some 60 kilometres off the north-eastern coast of the island on its way to Cuba yesterday afternoon.

Yesterday, Dr. Barbara Carby, director-general of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), said the poor weather was preventing the speedy delivery of vital supplies to the shelters located in 60 communities, in mostly central and eastern parishes across the island.

In a press conference yesterday, Prime Minister P.J. Patterson raised concerns about flooding: “The greater danger is that of flooding because even before this, the ground in many parts of the island was already saturated and for heavy rainfall to come on top of that means that we are exposed to flooding.” He advised citizens to pay particular attention to landslides which could threaten homes as well as the road infrastructure.

The rains also resulted in the flooding and blockage of several roads across the island including:

ST. THOMAS

- Yallahs Ford

- Seaforth

- Trinityville

- Serge Island

- Morant Bay

ST. CATHERINE

-  Bog Walk Gorge

-  Angels Junction

PORTLAND

- Windsor Castle

- Palisadoes Road

Flooded communities:

ST. CATHERINE

- White Water Meadows

- Sections of Greater Portmore

- Sections of Willowdene

ST. ANDREW

-   Sections of Washington Gardens

-   Sections of Kintyre

At 5:00 p.m. yesterday, a hurricane warning was still in effect for Jamaica as the hurricane system continued to gain strength while it moved outside the north-eastern coast of the island.

Prime Minister Patterson in the meantime expressed satisfaction with the response of disaster preparedness agencies to Hurricane Dennis.

He said the country “already has expressions not only of solidarity, but of a willingness to make assistance available, should it be necessary, from all the CARICOM governments.”

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