WCD communities to have temporary barrier for flooding threat

─following over topping of seawall

─Water has receded

DPI, Guyana, Saturday, September 28, 2019

The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and Region Three Administration are working to mobilise 1000 sandbags for distribution to residents of Blankenburg, Den Amstel, Fellowship, Cornelia Ida, Anna Catherina and Uitvlugt Oceanview along the West Coast of Demerara.

The move will help to protect homes against overtopping from above normal high-tides expected later this afternoon.

CDC, MOPI and Region 3, officials conducting damage assessments in the affected communities

CDC, MOPI and Region 3, officials conducting damage assessments in the affected communities

Some of the homes that had the bottom flats flooding earlier

Some of the homes that had the bottom flats flooding earlier

Residents in communities along the West Coast of Demerara in Region Three cleaning up following the overtopping of the seawall de to above normal high tides

Residents in communities along the West Coast of Demerara in Region Three cleaning up following the overtopping of the seawall de to above normal high tides

According to the Director-General of CDC, Lt. Col Kester Craig the high tide will occur around 15:30 hrs at a height of 3.6 metres.

Craig is advising residents living in the areas to immediately secure the entrances to the lower flat of their homes with sandbags and to elevate furniture, appliances, electronics and other valuables household items. Residents are also being told to seal off electrical outlets which are less than one foot above ground level.

This advisory follows earlier flooding that occurred in the villages just after 4:00 hrs this morning.

A high tide of 3.42 metres, caused overtopping and some residents were affected when approximately one foot of water entered the lower flats of their homes.

Cleaning supplies have been distributed to the affected residents and the clean-up exercise has already begun as the water has receded from most of the homes.

Damage assessment teams from the CDC and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure are on the ground checking for possible breaches. They are working alongside officials from the Essequibo Islands-West Demerara Regional Democratic Council Region going from house to house to assess the damages.

Earlier today in an interview on 94.1 FM Craig explained that “We are seeing the impact of global warming and as such there will be increased rainfall, higher tides hotter days. There a more comprehensive assessment of all the catchment areas is necessary. Those areas need to be re-assessed to see if there need to be increased sea-defence structures… therefore it calls for continued assessment taking climate change into consideration.”