Flood victims making the best of a bad situation

As the reality that the recovery process in the Georgetown area is going to be a long, tedious one, individual and families displaced by flash floods in the area, just over two weeks ago, are making the best of their circumstances.{{more}}

On Wednesday, April 27, SEARCHLIGHT visited some of the persons who have been placed in shelters at the Georgetown Community Centre, as well as the Old School for Children with Special Needs.

They say that they are presently content with the environment that they have found themselves in, but would like to be a bit more comfortable.

They were housed at the Langley Park Government School until Tuesday, April 26.

According to one woman: “We don’t know how long we are going to be here, so if we could get some things, that would make the time here more easy. That would be good.”

Some of these items that the residents are hoping to have include beds, mattresses and television sets, which they say would make their temporary dwelling places more homely.

One resident even requested a baby stroller.

The residents were also making requests for food and water, although kudos were given to the shelter cook, who was complimented for his work in the kitchen.

While SEARCHLIGHT was at the shelter, a donation of clothing was made by the Basil Charles Charitable Foundation to Shelter Manager Jennifer Davis.

Karen Nero, representing the Foundation, said that they recognized that persons have lost everything and needed to get around, hence the reason for the clothing donation.

Also present was minister responsible for National Mobilization, Frederick Stephenson, who thanked the Foundation for the gesture, which he said was greatly appreciated as persons tried to get their lives back together.

Shelter Manager Davis noted that other individuals, as well as organizations, have donated food, water and clothing to the shelter, and for that, the residents there are very grateful.

She predicted that the shelter residents may be in their situation for a while to come and asked that persons who can assist in any way continue to do so.

According to Davis, there were ten families housed at the two buildings, which totals 62 persons, including three babies.

One of the residents there is mother of five Panceta Caine, who lost everything in the flood.

Caine was pictured on the front cover of Searchlight’s flood coverage issue, covered in mud and being carried off to the hospital by villagers.

She said that she does not remember the circumstances leading up to her state of unconsciousness, but believes it may have resulted from her seeing the state of her home after the river overcame it.

“I sleep by my mother the night and I went around the early morning and I went in the house and when I catch myself, I was on the hospital bed. I don’t know if it is when I behold the condition of the house I faint away, because I couldn’t believe my eyes.”

Caine, who like most Georgetown residents was caught unawares when the flood waters hit, said that she heard a loud noise and her house began to shake.

“When I look out by the back window to the river, I saw a big wave coming to me. So I grabbed my (four-year-old) son and wake my family and we run out of the house.”

About her current condition, Caine contends that she is satisfied since ‘better cannot be done’ at present.

She said that she suffers from periodic headaches when she considers what she, and the rest of the community experienced.

“That is the first and I want to be the last. I don’t want to experience anything like that again. I lost everything in the house except for my life and I am thankful.”

Other persons met at the shelter, including Edwin Abbott, Syrian Jacobs, Bernadette Lewis, and Devon Baptiste, say that they are grateful for the assistance that they have been receiving from public and private donors and are praying to return to their ordinary lives, however and whenever that might be.