Freak storm: Half-dozen homes lose roofs, others damaged while road-clearing continues – PM

At least 13 houses have been damaged, six with full roof losses, the Prime Minister has disclosed in an initial update on the impact of an overnight freak storm.

“This ranges from St Joseph to St Andrew to  St James to St Philip. So it literally has taken pockets across the island, she said.

“We also have reports of a number of fallen trees across significant areas and indeed when we look at the roads that are blocked we have categorized them between those are priority in order to be able to remove the blockages on the main highways and then to be able to deal with the subsidiary roads thereafter that are affecting districts.”

She stressed that along with main highways, priority will also be given to roads that are subject to significant slippage like White Hill, St Andrew.

Blocked roads included Greenwich Village, Orange Hill, Porters and 1st Avenue Carlton in St James; White Hill, Hillaby, Lakes and Chalky Mount, St Andrew.  In St Thomas, Canefield, Bagatelle and Proute; and Chimborazo and Melvin Hill in St Joseph.

Mottley said the Ministry of Transport and Works has been fully mobilized and will work with all civil works contractors, Barbados Defence Force soldiers and the Roving Response Team to clear as many trees from roads in the shortest possible time.

She also outlined immediate assistance for families whose homes have been damaged.

She said: “The Ministry of Housing will work with the Urban Development Commission and the Rural Development Commission if necessary, but Housing will take the lead role on the damage assessments.  Where roofs can be replaced in the shortest possible time that will be done and where they can’t that will be done, Welfare and Statistical Services will go in to do the social survey and to see who can help themselves and those who can’t help themselves, clearly the Government will step in and provide the support that they need urgently.”

The Prime Minister noted that this has been a difficult year for the country, but stressed that in matters of crisis the island continues to soar.

“We know what it is to be resilient and the Government of Barbados and the civil society partners that we have in this country, the community partners will do all that is necessary to be able to deal with what is a freak storm,” she declared.

“It could have been a lot worst. But having said that it is bad for too many families still who went to work yesterday morning or went to sleep last night not expecting to be in this position this morning.”

She promised to fully update the country later Thursday.

Home Affairs Minister Wilfred Abrahams has appealed for affected residents to call the Department of Emergency Management at 438-7575 or email deminfo@barbados.gov.bb.