Many Seek Shelter in St. Catherine
September 12, 2004The Full Story
About 3,500 persons had to seek shelter at 55 centres across the parish of St. Catherine after several homes were flooded and others washed away, following heavy rains caused by Hurricane Ivan on September 10.
The St. Catherine Parish Disaster Co-ordinator, Yvonne Mundel told JIS News, that this figure was decreasing, as some persons were returning to their homes. She said a shelter at the Angels Primary School was now closed. Persons from Windsor Pen, Angels Crescent and nearby communities, whose homes were flooded or blown down, had been staying at that shelter.
Mrs. Mundel said that the St. Catherine Emergency Centre, based at the Parish Council’s office in Spanish Town, had received a number of calls from persons who needed assistance.
She pointed out that a number of persons who were marooned in Hartlands, The Vineyards and White Waters had to be taken from their homes on Saturday (September 11) in trucks provided by the National Works Agency (NWA).
Mrs. Mundel told JIS News that the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the Jamaica Red Cross were currently co-ordinating efforts to feed persons at the shelters.