Downed tree damages house in Portland

Rivers View, Eastern Portland:

A tree downed by heavy rain yesterday morning damaged a section of the roofing of a house owned by a woman at Rivers View, near Fellowship in the Rio Grande Valley in Eastern Portland.

The parish, which has been experiencing heavy rains since yesterday, came in for a heavy pounding for more than 15 hours- resulting in some roadways being reduced to single-lane traffic.

Homeowner Marlene Kisoon said she was alerted by a loud crashing sound on the outside, less than five minutes after feeling a jolt that felt like an earthquake around 11 pm Saturday.

“I felt this vibration and I thought it was a earthquake. So I didn’t bother to go to sleep and I sat up all night, because the rain was falling heavily,” said Kisoon.

“But likkle later mi hear a big crash like something fell onto the rooftop. So, my son wake up and went outside and it was then we realise say one tree fell pon di house. We call di police and dem come real quick and search round the house and we were advised to leave as di roof might cave in.

“I even call di fire brigade for help in cutting off the tree, as water was pouring into di house from di roof, as di zinc was damaged. Di fire brigade came during daylight, but dem say that dem have a more serious emergency weh dem haffi deal wid. Mi really thank mi neighbours and other people that come and a help with cutting up the tree. But mi need some help fi buy some zinc as mi caan afford nutting right now,” she added.

The tree was eventually removed from the roof of the two-bedroom part board and concrete house, with the help of some men from the area, who used a chain saw to cut up the downed tree.

A section of her roof and the premises were damaged and, according to Kisoon, it was a very frightening experience for her, and she was already suffering the aftereffects of a stroke.

She also thanked her neighbours who came to her aid to clear the tree.

In the meantime, another fallen tree disrupted traffic along Nuthall Road, while knocking out electrical power to several communities including Halls Avenue, Baptist Avenue, and Portland Road.

Since then, a Jamaica Public Service crew has been deployed to the area and has managed to clear the blocked roadway of a downed breadfruit tree and was attempting to restore damaged power lines.

editorial@gleanerjm.com