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Flash flooding leaves one dead, one missing, extensive damage
by The Daily Herald
Posted: Aug 1, 2005 18:54 UTC
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PHILIPSBURG - Flash floods that hit several parts of the island late Saturday afternoon took the life of at least one woman, left one man missing and caused extensive damage to cars and buildings.
Drainage and infrastructure proved insufficient to handle the immense amount of water in many residential areas. Government is assessing the damage. Many people believe that erosion, often caused by construction in the hills, led to the mass of water and the debris that came down.
According unofficial reports, some 68mm of rain fell in St. Peters, South Reward and surrounding areas in 24 hours. The Meteorological Services at the airport measured a meager 22mm on the other side of the hill. This measurement, according to a statement from Chairman of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards, was “not representative” of the amount of rain that came down in the hillside areas of St. Peters.
The Meteorological Office explained the downpour as “a cloudburst from a tropical wave system.” The cloudburst was not expected. A flash flood advisory was issued Sunday which will be in effect until further notice.
Flooding was worst in St. Peters, South Reward, Betty’s Estate, Saunders, Zagersgut, Bush Road, Longwall Road and A.Th. Illidge Road. Public Works, with the help of several backhoes and dump trucks, was cleaning debris starting Saturday evening and throughout the day Sunday.
The floodgates between Fresh Pond and Great Salt Pond were opened and so was the beach near Great Bay Beach Resort to allow excess water to drain from Fresh Pond. Authorities had started pumping water from Great Salt Pond on Friday. Staff of utility company GEBE was seen Sunday repairing electricity and water lines and connections in several areas.
Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards urged people on Sunday to be patient, as road crews were clearing the road network. Richards, who returned from an official visit to Curaçao Saturday evening, was given a tour of the island along with Commissioner responsible for Public Works Roy Marlin to get a firsthand assessment of the situation after the heavy rains hours earlier from the passing of the tropical wave.
“The preliminary assessment revealed that damage has taken place to the road infrastructure where floodwaters lifted the asphalt off some of the road network. Government assessment teams are busy compiling damage reports with respect to the estimated cost for repairs,” it was stated in a release Sunday.
No further details were made available by government, despite attempts by The Daily Herald to obtain more information on the damage. Richards and Marlin will hold a press conference this morning. Efforts also proved futile to learn from St. Maarten
Medical Center (SMMC) the number of injured persons. Marlin stated in a release that the storm drains had worked. However, “a lot of debris,” including household debris, caused blockage “problems.” The drainage ditch near Ebenezer along L.B. Scott Road, where infrastructure work is being carried out, was opened to facilitate the flow of rainwater from the surrounding hills, he added.
“Preliminary assessments of the school infrastructure so far reveal that Ruby Labega Primary School suffered water damage to some of the classrooms. Additional surveys will continue on Sunday with respect to the other school buildings on the island,” the release concluded.
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