Portland Makes Steady Progress in Recovery Effort

There has been steady progress in recovery and relief efforts in the parish of Portland, following the passage of Hurricane Melissa on October 28.

Parish Disaster Coordinator, Denise Lewis, told JIS News in an interview that while the parish was spared the worst from Hurricane Melissa, the activities of the Portland Municipal Corporation and stakeholders also assisted in minimising the effects of the category-five storm.

“The Corporation ensured that we had our emergency operations meeting with government and non-governmental organisations. During the storm, there was communication with the public [and] as soon as the storm was through, our government and non-governmental organisations carried out assessments,” Mrs. Lewis said.

She disclosed that three shelters remain open out of the 60 that were activated throughout Melissa’s passage. They are the Manchioneal Primary School with 10 persons, one person at Reach All-Age School, and a family of four at the Woodstock Housing Scheme Community Centre.

“We continue to give the humanitarian assistance to persons within shelters, but not only within shelters; it’s across the length and breadth of Portland, as persons have had their roofs lifted and zincs blown. So, we continue across the parish to carry out assessments and, of course, giving care packages where they are needed,” Mrs. Lewis said.

She lamented, however, that one male died in his house due to a fallen tree.

In terms of the road network in the parish, Mrs. Lewis said that there were reports of damage.

“But our responders worked assiduously to ensure that blocked roads were totally cleared across the parish. Those that were not totally cleared were partially cleared and work continues,” she pointed out.

Although power restoration is ongoing and many residents remain without electricity and cell reception, Mrs. Lewis committed that the parish will “build back better”.

“The journey continues as the Humanitarian Committee members, headed by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, do their assessments so that information gathered can be shared locally and to the point of nationally, so that the necessary assistance for roofs to be repaired, or so that those persons whose houses have been destroyed can go back to normalcy,” the Disaster Coordinator said.