Emergency help sent to Mahaicony as floodwaters rise

…homes in Rockstone inundated – CDC

Emergency assistance has been sent to Mahaicony following a rise of water in some communities as a result of heavy rainfall experienced over recent days.
Flood relief hampers have been distributed to the affected residents and several excavators have been dispatched to the affected areas following persistent rains on Sunday.

The areas affected include Abary, Calcutta, Catrine, Recess, Novar, Dundee, Airy Hall and Huntley. Machinery was reportedly sent to the communities on Sunday evening.
Regional Chairman Vickchand Ramphal said the Regional Democratic Council is spearheading the operation and is receiving assistance for the MMA and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA).

“The excavators have been deployed to the area to assist with cleaning clogged drains and canals. Also, proper monitoring of sluices in the area would be done and every effort the RDC and the governmental level will be done to ensure that the water [level lowers] in a timely manner and for the livelihood of persons to be back to normalcy.”
Meanwhile, the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) along with other agencies have been engaged to assess the damages done to cash crops and other farmers within the affected area.
Apart from the heavy and continuous rainfall, the current spring tide has resulted in a lower level of drainage. “Some of these areas the water has already recessed,” the Regional Chairman said.
“The CDC has also been engaged and cleaning hampers will be distributed to those households that were affected. We will continue to monitor the situation closely,” Ramphal noted.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer at NDIA Lionel Wordsworth visited some of the affected communities on Monday afternoon and has since stated that the agency will be taking a mobile pump to Mahaicony to assist with drainage.

Meanwhile, the Toshao at Rockstone, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) has confirmed that some homes are flooded due to recent heavy rainfall.
According to the Civil Defence Commission, three homes are reported to be inundated but the residents have chosen to remain in their homes and manage the situation.
“Water is said to be approximately one (1) foot in height, and houses along the banks of the creek have accumulated flood waters in their yards. The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) is working with the Toshao and Regional Authorities to monitor the situation and render aid if necessary,” the CDC reported.
In addition, it stated that heavy rainfall is expect to continue during the next 24 hours and residents countrywide are advised to take all necessary precautions and to report any impacts to local authorities or the National Emergency Monitoring System (NEMS) on 600-7500 or 226-1114 at any time.
Around the same time last year, heavy rainfall persisted countrywide, and almost all administrative regions had been severely affected by intense flooding.