The Tribune

By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

WRENSWORTH Butler of the Department of Social Services said social workers visited several areas that were most affected by the storm yesterday, including Pinewood Gardens, Mount Tabor Estates, Nassau Village, Winton Meadows and Englerston.

“This was just the initial assessment to determine the need,” Mr Butler said. “We found in some areas there was significant damage and persons would be needing assistance.”

He said one person in Nassau Village was removed from their home and any persons who feel they cannot stay in their home are asked to contact Social Services for an assessment.

“A more thorough investigation will be carried out once the water has receded so we can get an accurate assessment of what the entire damage was,” Mr Butler added.

Senior engineer at the Water and Sewerage Corporation, Cyprian Gibson said water supply systems were still intact as was the sewerage system - “save for some of the areas that are prone to flooding”.

However, “mitigating measures” are being put in place. He also said: “The key advisory that the Corporation would wish to remind persons of the public, at this point in time, especially in those areas that are flooded, use bottle water or the city supply. If you have to use well water, at this stage, boil it - at minimum.”

Engineer Henry Moxey from the Ministry of Works said: “Areas that are not customarily prone to flooding, we’ve found that there’s been an overwhelming amount of water in those areas. Some areas have experienced anywhere from a foot and a half to two feet of water. Persons’ homes have been inundated with water up to about four to eight inches throughout their homes. For us, this is somewhat unusual.”

Mr Moxey also spoke on the drainage systems in place across New Providence. He said the ministry is working on “further developing” drain maintenance.

“We have some 5,000 wells throughout the length and breadth of New Providence that we are endeavouring to have cleaned on a consistent basis. Some we have started, but unfortunately this weather has exacerbating the situation. But we also mobilized our crews immediately into areas that we could have brought some relief.

“Other areas were just trying to strategise now, how best we can move tremendous volumes of water. We realised pumping it is a futile efforts, it’s a great undertaking in terms of cost, so we’re looking at more cost effective and more practical means whereby we can move large volumes of waters.”

Mr Russell said standing water inside homes is still a “major concern” for NEMA: “I want to stress here and now that persons, whoever have water in their homes, to turn off all their electrical supplies... as long as there is standing water is in the homes, switch off your electrical supply from the breaker.”

He also warned persons to note that flood water may be contaminated and children should not play in it, nor should persons walk through it - if that can be avoided.

Drivers passing through flooded areas should also reduce their speed as they create a wake that can wash into persons’ homes, he added.

Mr Russell said he couldn’t estimate exactly how much damage was done as a result of the storm - as NEMA is still in the initial stages of its investigation - but, thousands were affected by flooding.

“Definitely in the Pinewood Gardens area there were hundreds of homes impacted,” he said. “I’m quite sure further in the eastern section of New Providence, hundreds, probably thousands of homes have been impacted - some form of water went into their homes.”

Mr Russell also noted some homes have experienced septic tank flooding that has backed up into homes.

Grand Bahama, Abaco, and Bimini still experienced thunderstorms last night, Mr Basden said, and the entire system should clear the Bahamas by midmorning today.