Contractor rebuilds after Ivan’s fury

Prominent building contractor, Leon Barnwell of New Montrose, has estimated that it will cost him $60,000 to rebuild his roof which was seriously damaged by Hurricane Ivan’s fury around 2.30 p.m. Tuesday. {{more}}
Barnwell told Searchlight Wednesday that because of the extent of the damage – which included damage to ceiling and electrical wiring – his entire roof will have to be rebuilt.
Recounting his experience, Barnwell stated: “I was inside the storm room, with a concrete roof, at the back of the house. I just heard like one gush, then I heard like something tearing and flying and that was it. The front part of the roof was ripped off”.
Asked how he felt then, the building contractor, who lives with his wife Paula, replied, “I was not really scared. I trust the Lord for everything. He promised not to give us more than we can bear. There are people who got worse than this”.
Barnwell said he had already called in an electrician to deal with the electrical wiring and, as early as next week, he will commence work rebuilding his roof.
Meanwhile, carpenter Albert Murray of Mahoe Village, Campden Park, fell from a ladder and broke his right arm while working at Villa, became a victim of Hurricane Ivan when he lost most of his house roof around 9.30 a.m. Tuesday.
“I had just moved from a bedroom and gone to the living room. We were moving things because I noticed the situation. When the wind was blowing from the lower side it was just rocking the roof. When the wind started blowing from the northern side it suddenly lifted most of the roof and
threw it in the neighbour’s yard,” he told Searchlight Wednesday.
Murray said several pieces of furniture and some clothing were soaked by the pouring rain following the damage to the roof.